Before long Delbert came rushing back. “We can go! We can go!” he called. “We—where’s Marian?—oh, there you are. Mr. Cunningham says we can have the launch. The man he usually sends with it is sick or something, but he got Mr. Pearson to take us instead. We can start early in the morning. Goody! And say, Marian, can’t you fix some dough for doughnuts and let me fry ’em for you?”
Marian looked severe. “Do you remember what happened the last time I let you fry doughnuts?” she asked.
Delbert’s eyes twinkled. “Yes,” he said, “but that was learning; I won’t do it that way now.”
“Shall we trust him, Jennie?” she asked.
“If you don’t, there won’t be any doughnuts to-morrow,” Delbert assured her. “Marian has not got time to make ’em.”
“I guess we can this time,” decided Jennie.
“Me fry doughnuts, too,” said Esther.
“I am afraid me had better not,” said Marian; “but you and Jennie may roll and cut them out for Delbert. And Davie, you sit up in your high chair and watch sister stir up these doughnuts quickly, and then Davie shall make a doughnut of his very own. Delbert, put the granite-ware kettle on, and the lard is in that pail on the shelf there by you. I think there is just enough; put it all in.”
She hurried the ingredients together, and, as soon as the dough was ready for rolling out, turned it over to the apprentices and ran out of the kitchen to the numerous other tasks that awaited her.
“You haven’t read us mamma’s letter yet,” called Jennie.