Besides that, I knew by their smell that they had been near Mr.Maxwell, so perhaps they were after him.
They understood quite well that I would not hurt them, and passed by me.

The rabbit went ahead again and the hen fell behind.

It seemed to me that the hen was sleepy, and didn't like to be out so late at night, and was only following the rabbit because she thought it was her duty.
He was going along in a very queer fashion, putting his nose to the ground, and rising up on his hind legs, and sniffing the air, first on this side and then on the other, and his nose going, going all the time.
He smelled all around the house till he came to Mr.Maxwell's room at the back.

It opened on the veranda by a glass door, and the door stood ajar.

The rabbit squeezed himself in, and the hen stayed out.