"In a very short time Anita appeared in a neat dress of coarse blue stuff, a little short in the skirts, with a white apron over it.
"'Come, now,' said she, gayly, 'let us go into the kitchen and see what we shall have for dinner. Shall it be dinner or lunch? Cotters dine about noon.'
"'Oh, make it lunch,' said I. 'I am hungry, and I do not want to wait to get up a dinner.' Anita agreed to this, and we went to work to take the lid off a hamper which she told me had been packed by Mrs. Parker and contained everything we should want for several days.
"'Besides,' she said, 'that widow woman has left no end of things, all in boxes and cans, labelled. She must have been a very thrifty person, and it was an excellent piece of business to buy the house just as it stood, with everything in it.'
"Anita found it difficult to make a choice of what she should cook for luncheon. 'Suppose we have some tea?'
"'Very good,' said I, for I knew that was easy to make.
"'Then,' said she, on her knees beside the hamper, with her forefinger against her lips, 'suppose—suppose we have some croquettes. I know how to make some very plain and simple croquettes out of—'
"'Oh, don't let us do that,' said I; 'they will take too long, and I am hungry.'
"'Very well, then,' said Anita. 'Let us have some boiled eggs; they are quick.'
"I agreed to this.