The good Yorkshire wife apologised to her unexpected guest for serving the fruit cake without cheese.
The little boy of the family slipped quietly away from the table for a moment, and returned with a cube of cheese, which he laid on the guest's plate.
The visitor smiled in recognition of the lad's thoughtfulness, popped the cheese into his mouth, and then remarked:
"You must have sharper eyes than your mother, lad. Where did you find it?"
The boy replied with a flush of pride: