Just as soon as she could get away, she started for the Old Briar-patch. She wanted to hear all about Peter's adventures in the Old Pasture and to meet Mrs. Peter. But like a great many other busybodies, she wanted to find out all she could about Peter's affairs, and she thought that the surest way to do it was not to let Peter know that she was about until she had had a chance to use her sharp little eyes all she wanted to. So when she reached the Old Briar-patch, she didn't make a sound. It didn't take her long to find Peter. He was sitting under one of his favorite bramble-bushes smiling to himself. He smiled and smiled until Jenny Wren had to bite her tongue to keep from asking what was pleasing him so. [Illustration with caption: “THE QUICKEST WAY FOR ME TO KNOW IS FOR YOU TO TELL ME,” REPLIED JIMMY.] “He looks tickled almost to death over something, but very likely if I should ask him what it is he wouldn't tell me,” thought Jenny Wren. “I guess I'll look around a bit first. I wonder where Mrs. Peter is.” So leaving Peter to smile to his heart's content, she went peeking and peering through the Old Briar-patch. Of course it wasn't a nice thing to do, not a bit nice. But Jenny Wren didn't stop to think of that. By and by she saw something that made her flutter all over with excitement. She looked and looked until she could sit still no longer. Then she hurried back to where Peter was sitting. He was still smiling. “Oh, Peter Rabbit, it's perfectly lovely!” she cried. Peter looked up quickly, and a worried look chased the smile away. “Hello, Jenny Wren! Where did you come from? I haven't seen you since I got back,” said he. “I've been so busy that I haven't had time to call before,” replied Jenny. “I know what you've been smiling about, Peter, and it's perfectly splendid. Has everybody heard the news?” “No,” said Peter, “nobody knows it but you, and I don't want anybody else to know it just yet. Will you keep it a secret, Jenny Wren?” Now Jenny was just bursting with desire to spread the news, but Peter looked so anxious that finally she promised that she would keep it to herself, and she really meant to. But though Peter looked greatly relieved as he watched her start for home, he didn't smile as he had before. “I wish her tongue didn't wag so much,” said he. CHAPTER XXIX JIMMY SKUNK VISITS PETER RABBIT It's hard to keep a secret which you fairly ache to tell; So not to know such secrets is often quite as well. Peter Rabbit. On her way home from the Old Briar-patch, Jenny Wren stopped to rest in a bush beside the Crooked Little Path that comes down the hill, when who should come along but Jimmy Skunk. Now just as usual Jenny Wren was fidgeting and fussing about, and Jimmy Skunk grinned as he watched her. “Hello, Jenny Wren!” said he. “What are you doing here?”