“Run along,” said Bambi’s mother, “you’ll soon be friends.” “What a lovely child,” Aunt Ena replied. “He is really lovely. So strong, and he stands so well.” “O well,” said his mother modestly, “we have to be content. But to have two of them, Ena!...” “O yes, that’s all very well,” Ena declared; “you know, dear, I’ve had children before.” “Bambi is my first,” his mother said. “We’ll see,” Ena comforted her, “perhaps it will be different with you next time, too.” The children were still standing and staring at each other. No one said a word. Suddenly Faline gave a leap and rushed away. It had become too much for her. In a moment Bambi darted after her. Gobo followed him. They flew around in a semi-circle, they turned tail and fell over each other. Then they chased each other up and down. It was glorious. When they stopped, all topsy-turvy and somewhat breathless, they were already good friends. They began to chatter. Bambi told them how he talked to the nice grasshopper and the butterfly. “Did you ever talk to the gold bug?” asked Faline. No, Bambi had never talked to the gold bug. He did not even know who he was. “I’ve talked to him often,” Faline declared, a little pertly. “The jay insulted me,” said Bambi. “Really,” said Gobo astonished, “did the jay treat you like that?” Gobo was very easily astonished and was extremely timid. “Well,” he observed, “the hedgehog stuck me in the nose.” But he only mentioned it in passing. “Who is the hedgehog?” Bambi asked eagerly. It seemed wonderful to him to be there with friends, listening to so many exciting things. “The hedgehog is a terrible creature,” cried Faline, “full of long spines all over his body and very wicked!” “Do you really think he’s wicked?” asked Gobo. “He never hurts anybody.” “Is that so?” answered Faline quickly. “Didn’t he stick you?” “O, that was only because I wanted to speak to him,” Gobo replied, “and only a little anyhow. It didn’t hurt me much.” Bambi turned to Gobo. “Why didn’t he want you to talk to him?” he asked. “He doesn’t talk to anybody,” Faline interrupted, “even if you just come where he is he rolls himself up so he’s nothing but prickles all over. Our mother says he’s one of those people who don’t want to have anything to do with the world.” “Maybe he’s only afraid,” Gobo said. But Faline knew better. “Mother says you shouldn’t meddle with such people,” she said. Presently Bambi began to ask Gobo softly, “Do you know what ‘danger’ means?” Then they both grew serious and all three heads drew together. Gobo thought a while. He made a special effort to remember for he saw how curious Bambi was for the answer. “Danger,” he whispered, “is something very bad.” “Yes,” Bambi declared excitedly, “I know it’s something very bad, but what?” All three trembled with fear.