"Silence," cried Chet, in a dramatically deep voice. "The queen is about to speak."
"He said something that time," whispered Teddy in her ear, and a little pink flush mounted to Billie's face, making her look prettier than ever. It was so nice to have one's friends like you!
"Why, I was just thinking about the cooking," she said. "Do any of you boys know how to cook?"
"Heavens, listen at her!" cried Ferd in alarm. "Is she going to set us to work already—before we get there? What's the idea, Billie?"
"Well," replied Billie, biting off her thread calmly, "we have to eat while we're there, you know."
"No!" cried Chet sarcastically. "You may, sweet sister, but not us. We are too ethereal."
"Say, is he insulting us?" cried Ferd indignantly. "Say that again, I dare you—"
"Oh, for goodness' sake keep still!" cried Laura, clapping her hands to her ears. "You make me deaf, dumb and blind. Now, Billie, what were you going to say?"
"Simply, that since we do have to eat, Chet or anybody else to the contrary," she looked at her brother and dimpled adorably, "we will have to decide who is going to do the cooking."
"Why, I suppose we'll take our turns at it, as we've done before when we have been camping," said Laura, in surprise.