1. I was afraid of losing my perch, her nice white cap, on which I had
now grown to feel quite at home. It seemed as if it were turning into
ashes like those in the grate, and it felt too hot.
2. I flew up, for I could sit there no longer. And then I pitched on
the top of Mr. Sutton's head, just in the bald place, and stamped with
one foot as hard as I could.
3. I also ran about and tickled him a good deal. He woke up in a great
hurry, for he raised his hand to drive me away, and in doing so, gave
himself a smart tap.
4. This roused him. And he awoke just in time to save the cap and the
hair of his wife from being in a blaze of fire.
5. "Dear, dear, dear!" said he. "Why, my love, what an escape you have
had!"
"Nonsense, my dear," said the old lady, "I have not been asleep, I
assure you." But it was of no use for her to say and think this.
6. There was the burnt cap on her head. "I was not quite asleep," said
she. "Oh no, neither was I," said her husband, laughing.
7. And then, looking grave, he said, "You were in great danger though,
my dear. I read only a day or two ago, of an old lady who had been
burnt to death from setting her cap on fire."
8. I had been in great danger too, though no one seemed to think of
that. What between the flames, and the knock that Mr. Sutton aimed at
me, I might have been killed.
9. Thomas was now heard coming up the gravel walk. He had been sent to
fetch Rose home. She was full of news to tell, about all the things she
had seen and heard that day.
10. "It is a great mercy, my dear, that you have a bit of your granny
left," said Mr. Sutton. "If it had not been for a fly, which tickled
the top of my head, your granny's cap would have been on fire."
11. "Well, well, Mr. Sutton," said the old lady, who, somehow or other,
did not seem to like hearing about the cap being on fire.
12. "You see here I am, without even being singed. And I was not half
so sound asleep as you were, my dear. Depend upon it I am too old and
too wise to let my cap catch fire."
13. Mr. Sutton did not say any more about the cap, since it seemed to
vex his wife.
"Ah," said Rose, "if I had been at home you would not both have fallen
asleep."
14. "That is very likely," said granny, smiling. "Well, and how did
you enjoy yourself?" Rose said that she had been very happy.
15. She had seen Neptune dive, and she had been drenched by the shaking
which the big doggie gave himself when he came out of the water.
* * * * *
_Write:_ The fly pitched on the head of the old man. He gave a stamp
with his foot to wake him up. The old man put out the fire.
Questions: 1. Where did the fly pitch on leaving the cap? 2.
What did he do to the old man's head? 3. What did Mr. Sutton
do when he woke up? 4. What did he say to his wife? 5. Who
came home with Thomas? 6. What sort of day had Rose spent?