XIX. The New Suit

Three days had passed. And as soon as he had finished his breakfast Brownie Beaver hastened to the tailor-shop of Mr. Frog, who had been making him a suit of clothes.

Much to Brownie's disappointment, he found that Mr. Frog's door was locked. But he sat down on the doorstep and waited a long time. And at last Mr. Frog appeared.

After bidding Brownie Beaver good-morning, Mr. Frog yawned widely, remarking that he had been out late the night before, "at a singing-party," he said. "What can I do for you?" he asked Brownie Beaver.

"You can let me have my new suit of clothes," Brownie told him.

"You must be mistaken," Mr. Frog replied. "I don't remember you. I'm not making any suit for you."

At that Brownie Beaver became much excited.

"Why--" he exclaimed--"I was here three days ago and you measured me.... Don't you know me now?" he asked.

"Sorry to say I don't," was Mr. Frog's answer.

Brownie Beaver was desperate. He had looked forward eagerly to having his new suit. And he wanted it at once.

"You advised me to get a new hat and a collar," Brownie reminded him.

Mr. Frog smiled.

"Ah! That's it!" he cried. "You're wearing them now; and it's no wonder I didn't recognize you. You look ten years younger."

Brownie Beaver was puzzled.

"I'm not ten yet," he said. "So if I look ten years younger, I must appear very young indeed."

"The new clothes will fix that," Mr. Frog assured him.

"But you just told me you were not making a suit for me," said Brownie.

"Quite true, too!" answered Mr. Frog--"because it's all finished. So, of course, I'm not making it now."

They had stepped inside the shop. And Mr. Frog carefully took some garments off a peg and spread them before Brownie Beaver.

"There!" he said with an air of pride. "The finest suit you ever saw!"

"I'll slip it on," said Brownie.

"Oh! I wouldn't do that!" Mr. Frog told him. "You might stretch it."

But nothing could have kept Brownie Beaver out of his new suit. He scrambled into it quickly, while the tailor stood by with a worried look upon his face.

"The coat seems to be all right," Brownie remarked. "But there's something wrong with the trousers. I can't see my feet!" He bent over and gazed down where his feet ought to have been. But they had vanished. And an end of each trouser-leg trailed on the floor. "These trousers are too long!" Brownie declared.

"Then you stretched them, putting them on," Mr. Frog said. "I warned you, you know."

"I was very careful," Brownie said.