Part 58 (1/2)

It was quite half an hour's walk through the wood from the village to the grandmother's house, and no sooner had Red Riding-Hood entered the wood than she met a wolf.

Red Riding-Hood did not know what a wicked animal he was, and felt not the least afraid of him.

”Good-day, Red Riding-Hood,” he said.

”Good-morning, sir,” replied the little girl, with a courtesy.

”Where are you going so early, Red Riding-Hood?” he asked.

”To my grandmother, sir,” she replied. ”Mother baked yesterday, and she has sent me with a piece of cake and a bottle of wine to her because she is sick, and it will make her stronger and do her good.”

”Where does your grandmother live, Red Riding-Hood?”

”About half a mile from here through the wood; her house stands under three large oak trees, near to the nut hedges; you would easily know it,” said Red Riding-Hood.

The wolf, when he heard this, thought to himself, ”This little, delicate thing would be a sweet morsel for me at last, and taste nicer than her old grandmother, but she would not satisfy my hunger; I must make a meal of them both.”

Then he walked quietly on by the side of Red Riding-Hood till they came to a part of the wood where a number of flowers grew.

”See, Red Riding-Hood,” he said, ”what pretty flowers are growing here; would you not like to rest and gather some? And don't you hear how sweetly the birds are singing? You are walking on as steadily as if you were going to school, and it is much more pleasant here in the wood.”

Then Red Riding-Hood looked up and saw the dancing sunbeams s.h.i.+ning between the trees and lighting up the beautiful flowers that grew all around her, and she thought, ”If I were to take my grandmother a fresh nosegay, it would make her so pleased; it is early yet, and I have plenty of time.”

So she went out of her way into the wood to gather flowers. And when she had picked a few, she saw some more beautiful still at a little distance so she walked on further and further, till she was quite deep in the wood.

Meanwhile the wolf went straight on to the grandmother's house, and knocked at the door. There was no answer.

So the wolf lifted the latch and the door flew open; then he rushed in, hoping to seize upon the poor old grandmother, and eat her up. But she had gone out for a little walk, so he shut the door, dressed himself in the old woman's nightgown and nightcap, and lay down in the bed to wait for Red Riding-Hood.

After Red Riding-Hood had gathered as many flowers as she could carry, she found her way back quickly to the right path, and walked on very fast till she came to her grandmother's house, and knocked at the door.

”Who is there?” said the wolf, trying to imitate the grandmother. His voice was so gruff, however, that Little Red Riding-Hood would have been frightened, only she thought her grandmother had a cold.

So she replied: ”It's Little Red Riding-Hood. Mother sent you a piece of cake and a bottle of wine.”

”Lift up the latch and come in,” said the wolf.

So Red Riding-Hood lifted the latch and went in.

When she saw her grandmother, as she thought, lying in bed, she went up to her and drew back the curtains; but she could only see the head, for the wolf had pulled the nightcap as far over his face as he could.

[Ill.u.s.tration: LITTLE RED RIDING-HOOD.

(ENGRAVED FROM THE PAINTING BY G. FERRIER.)]

”Good-morning,” she said; but there was no answer. Then she got on the bed, and cried out: ”Grandmother, what great ears you have!”

”The better to hear with, my dear,” he said.

”Grandmother, what great eyes you have!”

”The better to see you, my dear, the better to see you.”

”Grandmother, what great teeth you have!”