It being such warm weather the girls made dressing enough to stuff only two of the chickens. They got on bravely with their share of the work and were ready to put the chickens in the oven in the big dripping-pan when Laura’s and Bobby’s cakes were done.
Meanwhile Reddy and Short and Long had been very busy with the ice-cream freezer. The boys had brought over a can of milk and a big block of ice from the landing and Mrs. Morse had made the ice-cream. The boys froze it and packed it down in the shade.
Everybody began to get hungry early, for the odors from the cook-tent had been most delicious. As soon as the chickens and the baked potatoes were done, supper was served. Liz, in a clean dress and a clean apron served it.
Everything was fine except the chicken stuffing. There was something just a little queer about that; but what it was nobody seemed able to tell. 136
“I know I seasoned it with that same prepared seasoning of herbs that we use at home,” wailed Jess.
“You must have left something out,” said Nellie, despairingly.
Chet was tasting the dressing critically. “No,” he said, without a smile. “I don’t think you could have done that.”
Jess brightened visibly. “Then it doesn’t taste so bad?” she said, hopefully.
“There’s nothing you could have left out, Jess, that would make it taste like this. It’s something you’ve put in––”
Liz suddenly presented herself at the table shaking a box in her hand. “Was this what you took for seasonin’ for that stuffin’?” she demanded, solemnly.