CHAPTER CXXVI
A SUNDAY NIGHT TEA
"STIR this chicken a la king a moment for me, will you, Ruth?" said Bettina. "I'll warm the plates in the oven."
"What is that brown paper for?"
"To put under the dishes I'm warming. It breaks the heat and prevents cracking. There, that cream sauce has cooked enough now. I'll take it and beat it for a minute. See? There, now it's ready for the egg and the chicken mixture."
"Shall I stir it now? Don't you put it back over the fire?"
"Just for a minute. You see, if any custard or egg sauce is allowed to cook more than a minute after the egg has been added, it will curdle."
"Oh, is it done now? Let me toast the bread for it, will you, Bettina? I like to make cunning little light brown triangles."
"I hope I have made enough of this chicken a la king."
"For eight people? I'm sure that you have, Bettina. Even for people with as good appetites as Fred and I have! Are you ready to serve it now?"