Year: 1870

satisfaction 10 you, though for the life
of me | can't imagine what your drift
is, | will comply with your conditions.
When may | expect my suppiesf"


Let me see; tomorrow is my baking
day, and your tea-party is not to be be-
flre Thursday. Well, on Wednesday
afternoon you shall be supplied with
bread, biscuit, cake, and all the other
accessories, and mind, the only thing l
allow you to furnish is butter, which l
do not make"


Every well, it's all settled then, and |
will leave you. On the whole, this ar
rangement suits me; 1t relieves me of a
great responsibility, Cor your cooking is
we'll known to be particularly nice. So
good-by till Thursday.


Mind you say aothing about this,
Hattie, to any one; it's secret o mine"


Every well, as you say I'll keep mum,
Good by again, for you will have your
hands full and must not interrupt
you"


So off Mrs. Vane went, wodering what
crotchet demure little Mary had got in
to her steady little head.


Everything came off on that baking
day precisely as Mary could have wish
ed it. Her bread was light and sweet as
snowflake, with just golden brown
line surrounding it her cakes were per-
fection her crullers crisp and delicious.
then she knew that her preserved fruits
were nice, and if ever there was sponge
cake more like solid froth, she would
like to see it. Every thing was sent to
Mrs. Vane's on Wednesday afternoon
and she had all Thursday to devote to
her dress.


Mary looked very pretty that night
at the a-party, for her eyes shone with
purpose, and she h d just excitement
enough about it to redden her cheeks
in very becoming manner. Add to
this that she was dressed with neatness
and taste, and you will not be unwilling
to believe me when | say that she was
quite the belle of the occasion. Joe ev-
identity thought so himself for strange to
say, he made no remarks on her appear
ance that night, but contrawise gaZed at
her from time to time with the most pro-
found satisfaction.


But 'mu der will out 1t came out
on this occasion, when they sat down to
supper Every one was delighted. There
had not been such an exceptionable
tea in that neighborhood for a long
time. Country people are very fond of
their teas, they compare one with anoth-
er with admirable connoisseurship. This
one was triumph.


Mrs Vane, you are the perfection
of bread-makers. Your biscuits are
beautiful. Were ever snch crullers made?
How do you manage it Mrs. Vane p
What lovely sponge cake"


Mrs. Vane and Mary occasionally
changed glances and smiled, but nobo-
dy noticed it.


Joe had been behaving so beautifully
all the evening that Mary began to be
afraid her plans had failed. He came
out nov, howevery, greatly to Mary's
satisfaction.


"This is feast indeed. A fellow is
fortunate who has wife that can make
such bread as this, to say nothing of the
sponge cake. | can't see why it is, Mary,
you improve it is true, | give you credit
for it. But l don't see why it is, that
all women cannot have the knack that
Mrs. Vane has, at cooking to perfection.
If you could make such bread as this,
Mary, your husband would be happy
man."


Mrs. Vane looked at Mary, and Mary
looked at Mrs. Vane. Light had broken
upon the mind of the latter 1t broke
like flashes of Lightning, and then there
was an explosion-not of thunder but OF
laughter.


Joe looked up amazed. He was man
who petted his dignity enormously
What did these women mean to laugh
so at a sober sensible remark like this
Particularly what could Mary mean, to
trife so with the respect she owed her
husband.


He began to grow very red indeed
| Mas. Vane sawit presently, and came
to his and Mary's relief. for poor Mary
had began to get little frightened at
the success of her own scheme. She
did not like Joe to be angry at any
rate.


"Mr. Starr" said Mrs Vane, II am
truly glad you like this very excellent
cookery, for it is all your wife's. By
your own showing, you ought to be a
very happy man."


Here the whole party caught the in
fection and joined in the laugh against
| To II w.s no use to cet angry with so