The Mary Frances cook book

by Jane Eayre Fryer

"I should be, if Mother were really well," said Mary Frances; "but she's much better, and is coming home soon. Aunt Maria," she added,—"oh, I want you to share the secret! I'm doing all the lessons she had written out for me in my cook book—to surprise her when she comes home!"

"Good!" said Aunt Maria. "I'll tell you!—you can get dinner ready the day she comes!"

"Wouldn't that be perfectly lovely!" said Mary Frances.

Then, suddenly thinking,—

"Oh, Aunt Maria, excuse me, please! Won't you have some of our lesson?—Some of the Apple Snow we made for our lesson, I mean?"

"I'd ap-pre-ci-ate the kindness," said the old lady a little stiffly, as though a bit ashamed of her softness a moment ago. But after tasting the treat, she said: