“Yes, this surely must be Fairyland, and I know I shall like it here,” said the Candy Rabbit, speaking half aloud.  “But how did I get here, and where are the Calico Clown and the Monkey on a Stick?”

“Oh, they are not so far away,” answered the Fuzzy Rabbit.  “And you are not really in Fairyland, though this does seem like it, I suppose,” and his eyes roved over the gay and pretty scene.

“Then where am I?” asked the Candy Rabbit again.  “If this isn’t Fairyland, where am I?”

The Chocolate Rabbit grinned.

“You are on the Easter Novelty Counter,” was the Fuzzy Rabbit’s answer.

“Where in the world is that?” asked the Candy Rabbit.  “Is it anywhere near the North Pole Workshop of Santa Claus?”

The Chocolate Rabbit gave a loud laugh.

“He doesn’t even know his own store,” said this dark-complexioned chap.  “Why, my dear fellow,” he went on, “the Easter Novelty Counter is just around the corner from the toy section, where you have lived so long.  The Calico Clown, the Monkey on a Stick and the other friends you speak of are there.  You are not very far away from them.”

“That’s good,” said the Candy Rabbit.  “But why am I on the Easter Novelty Counter, and how did I get here?”

“You were put here because this is Easter time,” answered the Chocolate Rabbit.

“But I don’t remember coming here,” said the Candy Rabbit.

“No,” said the Fuzzy Rabbit with the clock-work inside him, which made him turn about and bow, “I dare say not.  You were asleep when one of the girl clerks from your counter brought you over here.  But we are glad to have you among us.”

Just then it began to get light, for all this talk had taken place in the night, when only a dim light burned in the toy store.  And with the coming of morning the clerks arrived, and also the customers to buy Easter novelties and other things.

The Fuzzy Rabbit stopped waving his ears and became quiet.  The Candy Rabbit no longer talked to the Chocolate Bunny.  A girl clerk led a lady, in a warm fur coat, over toward the counter.

“Here are some fine Easter presents,” said the girl.  “We have rabbits of all kinds.”

“I want a large one for a little girl,” said the lady.  “I promised to send Madeline a nice Bunny.”  And then the Candy Rabbit felt himself being picked up and looked at.

“Oh, I wonder what is going to happen?” he thought.

The lady in the fur cloak turned the Candy Rabbit around and around, and even upside down, looking carefully at him.

CHAPTER II

THE RABBIT’S NEW HOME

“Goodness me!” said the sweet chap to himself, as the lady swung him to one side so she might look at his eyes better.  “This is worse than being on a merry-go-round!  I am feeling quite dizzy!  I hope I am not going to be seasick, as the Lamb on Wheels thought she was going to be when the sailor bought her.”