“Jes’ listen ter that! Lawsamussy, if that ain’t music ter my ol’ years! Git a move on yer, Eben, you ol’ Virginia creeper! I’s a-thinkin’ ’bout stirring up some waffles fer supper. I ’lows our young mistress is done sanctified her stomick sufficient with nothin’ but toast an’ tea, tea an’ toast.”
“Well praise the Lawd! My back an’ front air a stickin’ tergither fer lack er nourishment,” declared Uncle Eben.
In a short while, the aroma of waffles was wafted through the house.
“If my old nose don’t tell no lies—” quoted Josie.
“I believe Aunt Sally is cooking waffles,” finished Mary Louise. “Now you must stay to supper, Josie.”
“Of course I will, if you truly want me. In fact, I think I’ll stay whether you do or not.”
“It’s strange how dependent we are on food,” mused Mary Louise a half hour later. Aunt Sally had given the girls a cozy little meal by the fire in the den. The dining room seemed so big and gloomy now that there were no men in the house.
“I believe I have not been eating enough. Aunt Sally brings me something, but I am sure that more than half the time I forget to eat it.”
“Just as I thought! You need a bossy, fussy person more or less like me to egg you on. Now start in and tell me what you are planning to do with these expensive, although devoted, retainers and this fine, extravagant house.” And Josie settled herself comfortably in a big chair by the fire on which Uncle Eben had deigned to waste much coal.
“I simply don’t know—I plan and plan but can’t fix on anything. Of course, Aunt Sally and Uncle Eben will be sad at not living on with me and declare they won’t leave me for the wealth of Greasus as Eben calls Croesus. There is no money in the bank, at least only a tiny bit. Grandpa Jim used to have two accounts, a checking account and a special account, but he seems to have withdrawn the special account and checked very closely on the other. Thank goodness, there are no bills to be paid! Grandpa Jim always kept bills paid up to the minute.”