English
Weekspassed,andthelittleRabbitgrewveryoldandshabby,buttheBoylovedhimjustasmuch.
Helovedhimsohardthathelovedallhiswhiskersoff,andthepinkliningtohisearsturnedgrey,andhisbrownspotsfaded.
Heevenbegantolosehisshape,andhescarcelylookedlikearabbitanymore,excepttotheBoy.
Tohimhewasalwaysbeautiful,andthatwasallthatthelittleRabbitcaredabout.
Hedidn'tmindhowhelookedtootherpeople,becausethenurserymagichadmadehimReal,andwhenyouareRealshabbinessdoesn'tmatter.
Andthen,oneday,theBoywasill.
Hisfacegrewveryflushed,andhetalkedinhissleep,andhislittlebodywassohotthatitburnedtheRabbitwhenheheldhimclose.
Strangepeoplecameandwentinthenursery,andalightburnedallnightandthroughitallthelittleVelveteenRabbitlaythere,hiddenfromsightunderthebedclothes,andheneverstirred,forhewasafraidthatiftheyfoundhimsomeonemighttakehimaway,andheknewthattheBoyneededhim.
Itwasalongwearytime,fortheBoywastooilltoplay,andthelittleRabbitfounditratherdullwithnothingtodoalldaylong.
Buthesnuggleddownpatiently,andlookedforwardtothetimewhentheBoyshouldbewellagain,andtheywouldgooutinthegardenamongsttheflowersandthebutterfliesandplaysplendidgamesintheraspberrythicketliketheyusedto.
Allsortsofdelightfulthingsheplanned,andwhiletheBoylayhalfasleephecreptupclosetothepillowandwhisperedtheminhisear.
Andpresentlythefeverturned,andtheBoygotbetter.
Hewasabletositupinbedandlookatpicture-books,whilethelittleRabbitcuddledcloseathisside.
Andoneday,theylethimgetupanddress.
Itwasabright,sunnymorning,andthewindowsstoodwideopen.
TheyhadcarriedtheBoyoutontothebalcony,wrappedinashawl,andthelittleRabbitlaytangledupamongthebedclothes,thinking.
TheBoywasgoingtotheseasideto-morrow.
Everythingwasarranged,andnowitonlyremainedtocarryoutthedoctor'sorders.
Theytalkedaboutitall,whilethelittleRabbitlayunderthebedclothes,withjusthisheadpeepingout,andlistened.
Theroomwastobedisinfected,andallthebooksandtoysthattheBoyhadplayedwithinbedmustbeburnt.
"Hurrah!"thoughtthelittleRabbit."To-morrowweshallgototheseaside!"
Fortheboyhadoftentalkedoftheseaside,andhewantedverymuchtoseethebigwavescomingin,andthetinycrabs,andthesandcastles.
JustthenNanacaughtsightofhim.
"HowabouthisoldBunny?"sheasked.
"That?"saidthedoctor."Why,it'samassofscarletfevergerms!–Burnitatonce.What?Nonsense!Gethimanewone.Hemustn'thavethatanymore!"
AndsothelittleRabbitwasputintoasackwiththeoldpicture-booksandalotofrubbish,andcarriedouttotheendofthegardenbehindthefowl-house.
Thatwasafineplacetomakeabonfire,onlythegardenerwastoobusyjustthentoattendtoit.
Hehadthepotatoestodigandthegreenpeastogather,butnextmorninghepromisedtocomequiteearlyandburnthewholelot.
ThatnighttheBoysleptinadifferentbedroom,andhehadanewbunnytosleepwithhim.
Itwasasplendidbunny,allwhiteplushwithrealglasseyes,buttheBoywastooexcitedtocareverymuchaboutit.
Forto-morrowhewasgoingtotheseaside,andthatinitselfwassuchawonderfulthingthathecouldthinkofnothingelse.
AndwhiletheBoywasasleep,dreamingoftheseaside,thelittleRabbitlayamongtheoldpicture-booksinthecornerbehindthefowl-house,andhefeltverylonely.
Thesackhadbeenleftuntied,andsobywrigglingabithewasabletogethisheadthroughtheopeningandlookout.
Hewasshiveringalittle,forhehadalwaysbeenusedtosleepinginaproperbed,andbythistimehiscoathadwornsothinandthreadbarefromhuggingthatitwasnolongeranyprotectiontohim.
Nearbyhecouldseethethicketofraspberrycanes,growingtallandcloselikeatropicaljungle,inwhoseshadowhehadplayedwiththeBoyonbygonemornings.
Hethoughtofthoselongsunlithoursinthegarden–howhappytheywere–andagreatsadnesscameoverhim.
Heseemedtoseethemallpassbeforehim,eachmorebeautifulthantheother,thefairyhutsintheflower-bed,thequieteveningsinthewoodwhenhelayinthebrackenandthelittleantsranoverhispaws;thewonderfuldaywhenhefirstknewthathewasReal.
HethoughtoftheSkinHorse,sowiseandgentle,andallthathehadtoldhim.
Ofwhatusewasittobelovedandloseone'sbeautyandbecomeRealifitallendedlikethis?
Andatear,arealtear,trickleddownhislittleshabbyvelvetnoseandfelltotheground.
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