All the way down the path little animals came out of the fern to meet them; the very first that they met were Peter Rabbit and Benjamin Bunny!

[Illustration]

And she gave them their nice clean clothes; and all the little animals and birds were so very much obliged to dear Mrs. Tiggy-winkle.

[Illustration]

So that at the bottom of the hill when they came to the stile, there was nothing left to carry except Lucie’s one little bundle.

[Illustration]

Lucie scrambled up the stile with the bundle in her hand; and then she turned to say “Good-night,” and to thank the washer-woman—­But what a very odd thing!  Mrs. Tiggy-winkle had not waited either for thanks or for the washing bill!

She was running running running up the hill—­and where was her white frilled cap? and her shawl? and her gown—­and her petticoat?

[Illustration]

And how small she had grown—­and how brown—­and covered with PRICKLES!

Why!  Mrs. Tiggy-winkle was nothing but a HEDGEHOG.

* * * * *

    (Now some people say that little Lucie had been asleep upon the
    stile—­but then how could she have found three clean
    pocket-handkins and a pinny, pinned with a silver safety-pin?

    And besides—­I have seen that door into the back of the hill
    called Cat Bells—­and besides I am very well acquainted with
    dear Mrs. Tiggy-winkle!)