When she got home the old man was sat in his chair by the fire. She could see by his face that he was in a bad temper. But she went up to him and kissed him and said, "Please don't be grumpy, for I have brought you something very nice for your tea." 

 "What is it?" said the old man, "a hen?" 

 "No," she said, "people don't have hens for tea, do they?" 

 "Perhaps not," said the old man. "But if you had brought a hen she might have laid an egg, and I could have had that. You know very well that I am fond of new laid eggs." 

 "New laid eggs are all very fine," said the old woman, "but butter is cheap to-day. I have brought you a beautiful fresh roll." 

 The old man smacked his lips. 

 While they were having tea the old woman began to laugh very much. 

 "What are you laughing at?" said the old man. "Did you meet the red policeman?" 

 "Yes, I did," said the old woman. 

 "And did he catch you?" 

 "Yes, he did," said the old woman. 

 "And he let you go?" 

 "Yes, he did," said the old woman. 

 "Why?" 

 "Because I was polite to him," said the old woman. 

 "Well I never," said the old man. 

 "But he is coming for me in the morning, providing the weather is fine," said the old woman. 

 The old man sat still in his chair and thought a great deal. 

 And by and by he said, "If you had asked the red policeman to tea like a sensible woman he might have let you off altogether." 

 Prev. P 8/15 next