two figures
trotting across the snow-covered Green Meadows, one behind the other.
They were trotting along quite as if they had made up their minds just
where they were going. They had. You see they were Granny and Reddy Fox,
and they were bound for the Big River at the place where the water ran
too swiftly to freeze. The day before Reddy had discovered Quacker the
Wild Duck swimming about there, and now they were on their way to try to
catch him.

Granny led the way and Reddy meekly followed her. To tell the truth,
Reddy hadn't the least idea that they would have a chance to catch
Quacker, because Quacker kept out in the water where he was as safe from
them as if they were a thousand miles away. The only reason that Reddy
had willingly started with Granny was the hope that he might find a dead
fish washed up on the shore as he had the day before.

"Granny certainly is growing foolish in her old age," thought Reddy, as
he trotted along behind her. "I told her that Quacker never once came
ashore all the time I watched yesterday. I don't believe he ever comes
ashore, and if she knows anything at all she ought to know that she
can't catch him out there in the water. Granny used to be smart enough
when she was young, I guess, but she certainly is losing her mind now.
It's a pity, a great pity. I can just imagine how Quacker will laugh at
her. I have to laugh myself."

He did laugh, but you may be sure he took great pains that Granny should
not see him laughing. Whenever she looked around he was as sober as
could be. In fact, he appeared to be quite as eager as if he felt sure
they would catch Quacker. Now old Granny Fox is very wise in the ways of
the Great World, and if Reddy could have known what was going on in her
mind as she led the way to the Big River, he might not have felt quite
so sure of his own smartness. Granny was doing some quiet laughing
herself.

"He thinks I'm old and foolish and don't know what I'm about, the young
scamp!" thought she. "He thinks he has learned all there is to learn. It
isn't the least use in the world to try to tell him anything. When young
folks feel the way he does, it is a waste of time to talk to them.
He has got to be shown. There is nothing like experience to take the
conceit out of these youngsters."

Now conceit is the feeling that you know more than any one else. Perhaps
you do. Then again, perhaps you don't. So sometimes it is best not to
be too sure of your own opinion.