We spent a day in the country, picking wild flowers. With the car full of flowers we were going home. On our way back my wife noticed a cupboard   outside a furniture shop. It was tall and narrow. "Buy it," my wife said at once. "We'll carry it home on the roof rack  . I've always wanted one like that." What could I do? Ten minutes later I was PS20 poorer; and the cupboard was tied on the roof rack. It was six feet long and eighteen inches square, quite heavy too. In the gathering darkness I drove slowly. Other drivers seemed unusually polite that evening. The police even stopped traffic to let us through. Carrying furniture was a good idea. After a time my wife said, "There's a long line of cars behind. Why don't they overtake, I wonder?" In fact a police car did overtake. The two officers inside looked at us seriously as they passed. But then, with great kindness, they led us through the rush-hour traffic. The police car stopped at our village church. One of the officers came to me. "Right, sir," he said."Do you need any more help?" I was a bit puzzled. "Thanks, officer," I said. "You have been very kind. I live just on the road." He was staring at our car, first at the flowers, then at the cupboard. "Well, well," he said, laughing. "It's a cupboard you've got there! We thought it was something else." My wife began to laugh. The truth hit me like a stone between the eyes. I smiled at the officer. " Yes, it's a cupboard, but thanks again."I drove home as fast as I could. The police will be more polite to those who are   _  .
in great sadness driving in gathering darkness driving with wild flowers in the car carrying furniture