his doorstep and panted.

"Serves me right for having so much curiosity," said Johnny Chuck
to himself.

Reddy Fox looked up as old Granny Fox came hurrying home. He was
weak and very, very hungry. But he felt sure that old Granny Fox
would bring him something nice for his breakfast, and as soon as
he heard her footsteps his mouth began to water.

"Did you bring me something nice, Granny?" asked Reddy Fox.

Now old Granny Fox had been so put out by the scare she had had
and by her failure to catch Peter Rabbit that she had forgotten
all about the chicken she had left up on the hill. When Reddy
spoke, she remembered it, and the thought of having to go way
back after it didn't improve her temper a bit.

"No!" she snapped. "I haven't!--You don't deserve any breakfast
anyway. If you had any gumption"--that's the word Granny Fox
used, gumption--"if you had any gumption at all, you wouldn't
have gotten in trouble, and could get your own breakfast."

Reddy Fox didn't know what gumption meant, but he did know that
he was very, very hungry, and do what he would, he couldn't keep
back a couple of big tears of disappointment. Granny Fox saw
them.

"There, there, Reddy! Don't cry. I've got a fine fat chicken for
you up on the hill, and I'll run back and get it," said Granny