He made a pompous little bow toward the Kitchen Folks.
"I little thought she'd be on time. I was afraid I'd have to strike before she was ready," declared Mantel Clock, beginning to strike twelve just as Billy came in.
"Menus!" exclaimed the boy.
"Jimminy! 'Billy's Potato Lunch,'" he read. "Oh, I say—if I'd known I'd have dressed for the occasion!"
"Don't make fun, Billy," begged Mary Frances.
"'Make fun,'" cried Billy. "Just taste that soup—and see if anyone could make fun. It's fit for the President."
"Oh—Billy!" Mary Frances laughed.
"Maybe you think I don't mean it," said Billy, helping himself to mashed potatoes. "Why didn't you invite some company?"
"I didn't know that Potato Masher—I mean, I didn't know it would turn out so well," blushed Mary Frances.