Ted found the cinnamon, and then, at Mrs. Keller’s suggestion, he took some warm water, soap and a rag and cleaned his suit as best he could. As Janet wore an apron, her dress did not suffer. Then Mrs. Keller had the children pick up the scattered apples and dough from the floor, and the floor was mopped clean.
Soon the kitchen looked as it had when Mrs. Martin left, and a little later a fine apple pie, made by the quick and skillful hands of the visitor, was browning in the oven.
“Oh, that smells good!” murmured Ted.
“Delicious,” sighed Janet. “I’m so glad you came, Mrs. Keller.”
“Could I give a piece of pie to a nellifunt?” asked a voice in the doorway, and Trouble entered from his play in the yard.
“Ah, there’s the little elephant boy!” laughed Mrs. Keller, as she gathered him up in her arms, for she loved children. “Well, have you seen any circus parades to-day?” she asked.
“No’m. But I saw a hand organ man an’ he’s got a monkey an’ could I have a piece of pie for the monkey?” William asked, all in one breath.
“Oh, no! We don’t want to give Mrs. Keller’s nice pie to a monkey!” objected Janet.
“He’s a nice monkey,” said Trouble.
“Well, you’d better stay in here with me,” said Teddy. “Once he followed a hand organ man and a monkey away off down the street,” Ted explained to Mrs. Keller, “and we have to watch him.”