get ready before the weather gets too hot, and go straight on your road
while you are out, and behave prettily and modestly; and do not run, for
fear you should fall and break the bottle, and then grandmother would
have no wine. And when you pass through the village, do not forget to
courtesy and say 'Good-morning' to every one who knows you."

"I will do everything you tell me, mother," said the child as she wished
her good-by and started for her long walk.

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 shining
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 w