Old Primrose 139

me so nervous too! Whatever on earth are
you at in my shop at this time of night ?”

“Well, ma’am,” stammered old P., “the
fact is I lost my way, as you may say,
_ and fancied I was in my own house; and
I’d left my umbrella here, you see, besides
feeling a bit hungry like, and your cheese
always being so good a

‘«‘ But worsted isn’t cheese, Mr. Primrose!
And whatever on earth is the matter with
your clothes—all green, with great brown
spots?” :

“The mud, maam; the mud,” replied
old P. “Very muddy down my way, and
splashes so!” Then he broke down, and
told Miss Pupsey the whole truth ; and she,
being good-natured, promised not to say a
word about his plans to anybody.

Old Primrose went home and wound
himself up in the yellow worsted until he
could not be seen, and then lay down again
on the garden seat, under the cabbage-
leaves; and when Daisy came in the morn-
ing, on her way to school, to peep at him,
there he was in a yellow cocoon !