"Simple enough, simple enough," Mr. Rabbit answered. "They are so much alike in their looks and ways and so different in their raising that they can't get on together. How would I feel if my double were to walk out of the side of the house and sit here facing me and mimicking my every motion? I wouldn't feel very comfortable, I can tell you." "I reckon not," said Mrs. Meadows. Presently she called the children, brought out the looking-glass and told them it was time to bid the others good-by. At this the other children seemed to be very well pleased. The other Buster John and the other Sweetest Susan shook hands all round, and the other Drusilla made a curtsey to the company. Then, with a run and a jump, they plunged into the big looking-glass as you have seen youngsters plunge into a pond of water. "Ho!" cried Mr. Thimblefinger, "they jumped in with a splash, but they never made a ripple." "They haven't room enough in there to turn around," said Sweetest Susan. "Why not?" inquired Mr. Thimblefinger. "To them the world is a looking-glass, and a mighty little one at that. If you were to peep in their glass now they'd peep back at you; but, as they look at it, you are in a looking-glass and they are out of it. And I wouldn't be surprised if they are a great deal sorrier for you than you are for them." "When are we to go home?" asked Sweetest Susan plaintively. "Oho! you want to get back into your looking-glass!" cried Mr. Thimblefinger merrily. "Well, you won't have long to wait. By rights, you ought to stay here twelve hours, but the old Spring Lizard and I have put our heads together, and we've fixed it so that you can get back before sundown." "Isn't it night at home now?" inquired Buster John. "Why, they are hardly through washing the dinner dishes," replied Mrs. Meadows. "It is just half past two," said Mr. Thimblefinger, looking at his watch. "Well, it look so dark all dis time dat I done got hungry fer supper," remarked Drusilla. X. MR. RABBIT AS A RAIN-MAKER. "I hope it won't rain," said Sweetest Susan, "for then the spring would fill up so we couldn't get out, and we should get wet down here." "Oh, no," replied Mr. Thimblefinger, "the water is never wet down here. It is a little damp, that's all." "Well, that's enough, I'm sure," remarked Mr. Rabbit. "It's enough to give me the wheezes when I first get up in the morning, and it's not at all comfortable, I can tell you." "There is one funny thing about springs," said Mrs. Meadows, "no matter how much it rains, they never get any fuller. They may run a little freer, but they never get any fuller. Speaking of rains," she continued, turning to Mr. Rabbit and laughing, "don't you remember the time you set yourself up as a rain-maker?" Mr. Rabbit chuckled so that he bent nearly double. "I don't remember that," sighed Mr. Thimblefinger. "You two have more jokes between you than you can shake a stick at. That comes of me being small and puny. Tell us about it, please."