‘I knock at the door.’

‘And what does your grandmother say?’ asked
the wolf.

‘She says, “Who is there?”’ answered the little

girl.

“And what do you do next?’

‘IT answer and say, “I am little Red Riding-
Hood, and I have brought you a custard and
plum-pudding and a little pat of butter.”’

ane does grandmother then say ?’ inquired the
wolf,

‘She says, “Pull the bobbin, and the latch will

go up.
Well, when the wolf heard this, off he ran as
fast as he could, taking the nearest way; and the
little girl, forgetting again her mother’s commands,
idled on the way, picking hazel-nuts, running after
butterflies, making posies of the wild-flowers.
The wolf was not long before he got to the old
woman’s door. He knocked—tap, tap.
“Who is there >’ called a voice from within.
‘Your grandchild, littl Red Riding-Hood,’
replied the wolf, imitating the child’s voice as
nearly.as possible. ‘I have brought you a custard
and a little plum-pudding and a little pat of butter.’
The old grandmother, who was infirm and in
bed, cried out:
‘Pull the bobbin, and the latch will go up.’
The wolf pulled the bobbin, and the door opened,
and then he fell on the poor old woman, and
gobbled her up in a moment, for he had eaten
nothing for many days. He then shut the door,
and jumped into the grandmother's bed, and pulled
on the grandmother’s nightcap, which he had not
eaten, but had reserved, lest it should spoil his
appetite for what was coming. Presently he heard
little Red Riding-Hood’s tap, tap, at the door. So
he called out: ‘Who is there?’
‘It is your grandchild, little Red Riding-Hood,
53

LITTLE
RED
RIDING-
HOOD