not coming out with you to-day." 

 "I don't want your wife to come out with me," said the person at the door; "I have called to look at the gas meter." 

 "We haven't got a gas meter now," said the old man, "we burn nothing but electric light." 

 "Many, many thanks," said the person at the door, and he went away. 

 "I feel all of a flutter," said the old woman, sinking into a chair. 

 "So do I," said the old man. "And he has got my sixpence too." 

 CHAPTER VI. 

 In a little while the old woman began to put the breakfast things away. Afterwards she took up the table-cover and went out into the garden with it to shake off the bread crumbs. As she stepped out of the door who should step in but the red policeman. The old woman trembled very much when she saw him go in, and she shook the table-cover several times over in order that she might think what to say to the red policeman. Just then it began to rain. The old woman ran into the house at once. 

 Who should step in but the red policeman.

 "Good morning, madam," said the red policeman, and he made a nice bow. 

 "Good morning, sir," said the old woman. "What, might I ask, brings you here?" 

 "I have called, madam," replied the red policeman, making another bow, "for the purpose of taking you with me to prison for stealing a roll of butter." 

 "Where is the roll of butter?" said the old woman. 

 The policeman looked very hard at the butter dish, but there was no butter on it. The old man and his wife and the gas-man had eaten it all. 

 "I beg your pardon, I am sure," said the policeman. 

 "The idea!" said the old woman. "Besides you said you would not call this morning unless the weather were fine, and you see for yourself that it is now raining cats and dogs." 

 "I am truly sorry, madam," said the policeman, bowing once more. "When I come to think of it, I did say that I would not call if it rained. Pray forgive me. We all make mistakes 

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