"Now, if you run out and look up you will see smoke pouring from the kitchen chimney," said the Guide.
"We'll take your word for it—we're anxious to bake the cake," laughed Elena.
More wood was placed on the fire and a few minutes after Miss Miller poured a small quantity of coal on the wood.
"Now it will burn without our watching, and we can go back to the cake. Hilda, measure two teaspoonfuls of baking powder into two cups of sifted flour. Zan, take the spermaceti from the jelly. Wash it off carefully and leave it in the closet to use for waxing our irons when we do our laundry."
"I've often wondered what this thing was on top of the jelly and preserves," said Zan, examining the hardened cake.
"What is that put on for?" asked Elena, while the others watched Zan remove it.
"It keeps the jelly or other preserves from the air. In case of canned or preserved things, air causes fermentation. With jelly, tiny flies settle and eat the top, finally making it sour and unfit to use. This wax is poured on top of the jar while it is in a melted condition; it soon hardens and forms a close sealed top. It does not injure the quality of jelly or wax, so it is waste to throw away the wax when it is serviceable in other ways."
Zan had removed the spermaceti while the Guide spoke, and stood awaiting further orders. "Muzzer always put some flavour in our cakes—we all like vanilla," said she.
"It would be better to eat if we had any, but I forgot to have any extracts sent here," said Miss Miller.
"I'll look in the cupboard, maybe there will be some left over from last year," Zan hastened to say, and ran over to investigate. "Yes, here's half a bottle!"