Her weary husband went out and bought a bagful from the market, but on his way back he got side tracked by some friends who were out having a few drinks.
Eventually he staggered home in the early hours, dropping the snails all over floor as he struggled to get his key in the door.
As the door swung open his wife shouted "Where have you been???"
Without hesitating he looked down and said to the snails "Come on, nearly there".