The old corner cupboard disclosed griddles and gridirons, saucepans and frying-pans; rows of shining tins hung over the sink; egg-beaters and syllabub-churns smiled out at them from the shelves; and a big fat pudding-mold beamed a welcome from its corner.

Betty seized two tin kettle-covers, and, clashing them like cymbals, broke into the club’s “battle-song,” which they sang on every possible occasion. Marjorie played an accompaniment on the coffee-mill, Nan whisked in some trills with the egg-beater, and they all sang:

Rub-a-dub-dub!

Rub-a-dub-dub!

Hurrah for the girls of the Blue Ribbon Club!

And whether we’re beating,

Or heating,

Or eating,

We always have fun at the Blue Ribbon Club!

A loud knock at the back door made them all jump.