It was a fine, clear morning, and Benjamin Bunny was sitting on a grassy bank.
His ears pricked up as a horse pulling a carriage approached. It was driven by a gentleman in a hat and by his side sat a smartly dressed lady.
As soon as they had passed, Benjamin set off with a hop, a skip and a jump. He was off to visit his relations who lived in the nearby wood鈥
The wood was full of rabbit holes and in the neatest, sandiest hole of all lived Benjamin鈥檚 aunt and his cousins - Flopsy, Mopsy, Cotton-Tail and Peter Rabbit.
Benjamin felt excited as he scrambled inside: he was looking forward to seeing Peter鈥ut as he crawled into the warm kitchen with bunches of herbs hanging from the ceiling, he could not believe what he saw鈥here, in the middle, stood Peter - without a stitch of clothing on!
鈥楶eter!鈥 cried Benjamin. 鈥榃hat happened to your jacket and shoes?鈥
Peter blushed bright red. 鈥業 sneaked into Mr and Mrs McGregor鈥檚 garden to eat some cabbages - but I was spotted by Mr McGregor and they came off when I tried to escape. Mr McGregor put them on his scarecrow!鈥
鈥楧on鈥檛 worry,鈥 said Benjamin. 鈥業鈥檝e just seen the McGregor鈥檚 go out. Let鈥檚 go and find that scarecrow!鈥
The two bunnies bounded through the wood and jumped onto a high brick wall. On the other side of the wall was Mr McGregor鈥檚 garden.
鈥榃e can squeeze in under the gate,鈥 whispered Peter. 鈥楤ut that would spoil my clothes,鈥 protested Benjamin. 鈥楲et鈥檚 climb down that pear tree instead.鈥
鈥榃ooooahhh!鈥 But no sooner had Benjamin spoken than Peter lost his balance and toppled down.
It was just as well there was a bed of springy lettuces to break his fall. 鈥楥ome on, jump!鈥 cried Peter. 鈥業t鈥檚 a nice soft landing!鈥
The two little bunnies crept over to the scarecrow and removed Peter鈥檚 clothes. 鈥楿gh, they鈥檙e all wet and soggy from the rain,鈥 said Peter.
Benjamin felt inside the coat pocket. 鈥榃here鈥檚 your handkerchief?鈥 he asked. 鈥榃hile we鈥檙e here, I want to fill it with onions to take back as a present for Auntie.鈥
As Benjamin dug up onions, Peter looked around nervously. 鈥榃hat鈥檚 that noise?!鈥 he whispered.
鈥楻elax!鈥 said Benjamin. 鈥業 know this garden well! I often come here with my papa to get lettuces. Try one, they鈥檙e delicious!鈥
But Peter wasn鈥檛 hungry. 鈥業 want to go home,鈥 he whimpered.
鈥榃ell, if you insist,鈥 sighed Benjamin. 鈥楤ut we can鈥檛 climb back up the pear tree with all these onions. Follow me!鈥
Benjamin led Peter along some planks of wood under a sunny-red brick wall.
Suddenly Peter stopped. 鈥榃hat was that noise!鈥 he whispered - his eyes as big as lollipops. 鈥業t鈥檚 coming from round the corner.鈥
Benjamin poked his nose round to look. 鈥楺uick - hide!鈥 he whispered as he grabbed a basket and pulled it over their heads鈥
What Peter had seen was a large, furry, cat. It prowled over to the basket, stretched itself across the top - and fell fast asleep.
Peter and Benjamin blinked in the darkness - the smell of onions was making their eyes water. They waited and waited for the cat to wake up and move - but it didn鈥檛 seem to want to wake up at all鈥
Suddenly, they heard a tremendous kerfuffle. The bunnies held their breath. What was going on?
Then they blinked in the light, as the basket was pulled away from the tops of their heads鈥
鈥楬allo you two lads!鈥 said a friendly voice.
鈥楶apa!鈥 cried Benjamin.
鈥楾hat cat won鈥檛 be bothering you again.鈥 smiled Papa. 鈥業鈥檝e locked him in the greenhouse. Come on, let鈥檚 get you two home.鈥
When Mr McGregor returned a short time later he was baffled to see his garden covered in tiny rabbit shoe prints.
鈥楢nd here鈥檚 another mystery,鈥 he said to his wife. 鈥楬ow did the cat manage to shut herself in the greenhouse - and lock the door from the outside?鈥
When Peter and Benjamin got back home everyone was happy to see them safe and sound.
鈥楧on鈥檛 these onions look fine?鈥 said Benjamin鈥檚 aunt as she hung them from the ceiling with the herbs. 鈥楤ut seeing you with your clothes back on, Peter, is even finer!鈥