"Perfectly delicious, child," he whispered hoarsely, for his throat was still sore. "I shall want to be a king and engage you for my personal cook even after I get well. I think I can tackle another of those excellent combinations of yours in about four hours."
Dorothy was delighted and for the whole of the busiest week of her life she worked hard not only to have her cooking delicious, but to have the trays attractive. She never used the same cup and saucer twice in succession; at the shop in the business block she found funny little jelly molds for a few cents apiece, and Mr. Emerson never failed to notice that to-day he had a miniature jelly rabbit and the next day a tiny jelly watermelon.
Mrs. Hancock let her forage in her china closet and she found there bowls of many patterns, the odds and ends of the home china sent here for summer use.
"They're exactly what I want," Dorothy cried and went off with them in triumph. There was always a bit of parsley or watercress or a tender leaf of lettuce with the first part of the meal and a posy with the dessert.
"I want especially to thank you for one care you've taken," said Mr. Emerson on the day when he regretfully dismissed his cook with a roll of crisp bills in her capable hand. "I want to thank you for always having the hot things really hot and the cold things really cold."
CHAPTER VIII
THE SPELLING MATCH
THE evening of the Annual Spelling Match was one of those when the whole Emerson-Morton family down to Dicky went to the Amphitheatre. Usually Mary or one of the older members of the family stayed at home with the children. On this occasion, however, Mr. Emerson had announced that he intended to take part in the match so everybody was eager to be present to encourage him.