Christmas Postman (4)

I did just that but in my ......... I dropped a small packet that fell into a puddle.
hurry
haste
speed
hasting

I didn't have the courage to make another assault on the house. Instead I took it home to ......... it out.
make
do
try
dry

I knew if I told Ted he would talk a lot about being strictly against the rules but I was convinced it didn't ..........
concern
affect
matter
worry

In my kitchen I looked at the address and saw the recipient was a Master Richard. I was ashamed of my .........
coward
cowardice
cowardly
cowards

and thought I was depriving a young child of his Christmas present from some loving ..........
relative
related
reality
relatively

I rubbed the package with a towel and went quickly again to number 56 hurrying down the path in the true ......... of the season,
sense
ghost
taste
spirit

clutching the precious bundle in my hand I ......... it through the letter box
gave
took
thrust
turned

expecting to hear a happy ......... of surprise from young Richard. As I hurried away
yelp
sound
noise
din

to the sound of the ......... dog, I knocked by accident the garden gate just in time to hear a voice shouting:
braying
breathing
barking
hooting

Master Richard! When will that woman realise I'm over fifty and can't ......... knitted socks!
hate
dislike
sit
stand