The woodcutter, outside, wondered what the wolf was doing in the house, but he did not hear a sound, so he sat down to watch and see what would happen next, and as he was very tired he fell fast asleep.
It was not long before Little Red Riding-Hood came running along, and she was in a great hurry, for she had spent a long time gathering flowers. The woodcutter did not see her, however, for he was asleep. The little girl ran up to the door and knocked upon it, rap-tap-tap!
Then the old wolf made his voice very faint and weak like the grandmother’s. “Who is there?” he asked.
“It is I, grandmother; Little Red Riding-Hood,” answered the child.
“Pull the latchstring, and lift the latch,” said the wolf.
Red Riding-Hood lifted the latch and pushed the door open and went in.
There was not much light in the room, for the wolf had pulled the curtains across the window.
“I am not able to get up, dear child,” said the wolf, still in the same weak voice. “Put your basket on the table and come over here.”
Red Riding-Hood did as she was told. She put the basket on the table and came over to the bedside, but as she came closer she thought her grandmother looked very strange.