That is perfectly
fair, so we don't mind that. It is only men who are not fair. They
don't know what fairness is."
Peter nodded that he understood, and Mrs. Quack went on. "Last
summer Mr. Quack and I had our nest on the dearest little island,
and no one found it. First we had twelve eggs, and then twelve of
the dearest babies you ever saw." "Maybe," said Peter doubtfully,
thinking of his own babies.
"They grew so fast that by the time the cold weather came, they
were as big as their father and mother," continued Mrs. Quack.
"And they were smart, too. They had learned how to take care of
themselves just as well as I could. I certainly was proud of that
family. But now I don't know where one of them is."
Mrs. Quack suddenly choked up with grief, and Peter Rabbit politely
turned his head away.
IV
MRS. QUACK CONTINUES HER STORY
When Mrs. Quack told of her twelve children and how she didn't know
where one of them was, Peter Rabbit and Jerry Muskrat knew just
how badly she was feeling, and they turned their heads away and
pretended that they didn't see her tears. In a few minutes she
bravely went on with her story.
"When Jack Frost came and we knew it was time to begin the long
journey, Mr. Quack and myself and our twelve children joined
with some other Duck families, and with Mr. Quack in the lead, we
started for our winter home, which really isn't a home but just a
place to stay. For a while we had nothing much to fear.
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