"Yes, ma'am, I can turn you out a truly superior article in a wonderfully short time," bragged Roger.
"He really does make them very well," confirmed Helen, "but it's because he always has the benefit of our valuable advice."
"Here you are to give it if I need it," said Roger good naturedly. "We'll show Grandmother what our united efforts can do."
So the girls leaned back comfortably against the pillars at the sides of the steps and Mrs. Emerson sat in an arm chair at the top of the flight and Mr. Emerson sat in the car at the foot of the steps and Roger began his work.
"It'll be a wonder if I make anything but a failure with so many bosses," he complained.
"Keep your hand steady, old man," teased his grandfather. "Don't let your knife go through the side or you'll let out a crack of light where you don't mean to."
"Be sure your knife doesn't slip and cut your fingers," advised Mrs. Emerson.
"Save me the inside," begged Ethel Brown. "I'm going to try to make a pumpkin pie."
"Save the top for a hat," laughed Helen. "I'll trim it with brown ribbon and set a new style at school."
Roger dug away industriously under the spur of these remarks.