English
AndsheheldthelittleRabbitcloseinherarmsandflewwithhimintothewood.
Itwaslightnow,forthemoonhadrisen.
Alltheforestwasbeautiful,andthefrondsofthebrackenshonelikefrostedsilver.
Intheopengladebetweenthetree-trunksthewildrabbitsdancedwiththeirshadowsonthevelvetgrass,butwhentheysawtheFairytheyallstoppeddancingandstoodroundinaringtostareather.
"I'vebroughtyouanewplayfellow,"theFairysaid."YoumustbeverykindtohimandteachhimallheneedstoknowinRabbit-land,forheisgoingtolivewithyouforeverandever!"
AndshekissedthelittleRabbitagainandputhimdownonthegrass.
"Runandplay,littleRabbit!"shesaid.
ButthelittleRabbitsatquitestillforamomentandnevermoved.
Forwhenhesawallthewildrabbitsdancingaroundhimhesuddenlyrememberedabouthishindlegs,andhedidn'twantthemtoseethathewasmadeallinonepiece.
HedidnotknowthatwhentheFairykissedhimthatlasttimeshehadchangedhimaltogether.
Andhemighthavesattherealongtime,tooshytomove,ifjustthensomethinghadn'ttickledhisnose,andbeforehethoughtwhathewasdoingheliftedhishindtoetoscratchit.
Andhefoundthatheactuallyhadhindlegs!
Insteadofdingyvelveteenhehadbrownfur,softandshiny,hisearstwitchedbythemselves,andhiswhiskersweresolongthattheybrushedthegrass.
Hegaveoneleapandthejoyofusingthosehindlegswassogreatthathewentspringingabouttheturfonthem,jumpingsidewaysandwhirlingroundastheothersdid,andhegrewsoexcitedthatwhenatlasthedidstoptolookfortheFairyshehadgone.
HewasaRealRabbitatlast,athomewiththeotherrabbits.
AutumnpassedandWinter,andintheSpring,whenthedaysgrewwarmandsunny,theBoywentouttoplayinthewoodbehindthehouse.
Andwhilehewasplaying,tworabbitscreptoutfromthebrackenandpeepedathim.
Oneofthemwasbrownallover,buttheotherhadstrangemarkingsunderhisfur,asthoughlongagohehadbeenspotted,andthespotsstillshowedthrough.
Andabouthislittlesoftnoseandhisroundblackeyestherewassomethingfamiliar,sothattheBoythoughttohimself:
"Why,helooksjustlikemyoldBunnythatwaslostwhenIhadscarletfever!"
ButheneverknewthatitreallywashisownBunny,comebacktolookatthechildwhohadfirsthelpedhimtobeReal.
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