"Has he taken every one?" asked the disconsolate guests.
"All except three, and as he seemed to be licking the whole plateful, I don't suppose anybody would care to try what he's left!" replied Mabel.
"My lovely scones! And I had split them and buttered them!" moaned Dora, almost in tears.
"Well, we have the potato cakes, at any rate. Luckily, I put them on the top of the stove, to keep hot, and Raggles didn't find them out."
"We'd better eat them quick, before any more accidents happen," advised Aldred, hastily pouring the water on the tea, and heading the procession back into the sitting-room.
The potato cakes were a huge success. That was the universal verdict. They were light, and hot, and buttery, and the only fault to be found was that there were not nearly sufficient of them. Mabel handed the plate round with impartial justice, and there were only two apiece.
"Just enough to make one want more!" sighed Ursula, consuming the last delicious crumb.
"There's plenty of bread and butter, if you're hungry."
"But I'm not bread-and-butter hungry!"
"I'm sorry we've no jam!" apologized Dora.