Told to peer into grass (9)
I believe the answer is:
recounted
'told' is the definition.
('recount' can be a synonym of 'tell')
'peer into grass' is the wordplay.
'peer' becomes 'count' ().
'into' is an insertion indicator.
'grass' becomes 'reed' (type of grass plant).
'count' placed into 'reed' is 'RECOUNTED'.
'to' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for recounted that I've seen before include "related" , "what votes were in close election" , "Told" .)