"And where does she live, your grandmother?"
"She lives at the other side of the wood in the first house in the village, near the windmill, you know."
"Ah! yes! I know now," said the wolf. "Well, that's just where I'm going. I shall get there before you, no doubt, with your little bits of legs, and I'll tell her you're coming to see her; then she'll wait for you."
Thereupon the wolf cuts across the wood, and in five minutes arrives at the grandmother's house.
Then he stands up on end, puts his two fore paws on the latch, and the door opens.
The old woman had risen early to sell herbs in the town, and had gone off in such haste that she had left her bed unmade, with her great night-cap on the pillow.
"Good!" said the wolf to himself, "I know what I'll do."
He shuts the door, pulls on the grandmother's night-cap down to his eyes; then he lies down all his length in the bed and draws the curtains.
In the meantime the good Blanchette went quietly on her way, as little girls do, amusing herself here and there by picking Easter daisies, watching the little birds making their nests, and running after the butterflies which fluttered in the sunshine.
"Who is there?" says the wolf, softening his rough voice as best he can.
"It's me, granny, your Little Golden Hood. I'm bringing you a big piece of cake for your Sunday treat to-morrow."
"Press your finger on the latch; then push and the door opens."
"Why, you've got a cold, granny," said she, coming in.
"Ahem! a little, my dear, a little," replies the wolf, pretending to cough. "Shut the door well, my little lamb. Put your basket on the table, and then take off your frock and come and lie down by me; you shall rest a little."
The good child undresses, but observe this:--she kept her little hood upon her head. When she saw what a figure her granny cut in bed, the poor little thing was much surprised.
"Oh!" cries she, "how like you are to friend Wolf, grandmother!"
"That's on account of my night-cap, child," replies the wolf.
"Oh! what hairy arms you've got, grandmother!"
"Oh! what a big tongue you've got, grandmother!"
"Oh! what a mouthful of great white teeth you have, grandmother!"
"That's for crunching little children with!" And the wolf opened his jaws wide to swallow Blanchette.