“Well!” he said. “This is certainly a fine beginning, Winnie! Did you learn all this in the woods?”
Winona colored with pleasure.
“No, I think I knew most of it before I went,” she said. “That is, all but the corn-bread—that was an experiment.”
“And see!” said Florence. “Flowers in the finger-bowls!”
“But you mustn’t work too hard, little daughter,” said her father, as he went into the living-room to bid his wife good-bye before he went to business.
Winona followed him closely with her mother’s tray. Mrs. Merriam was dressed, and Mr. Merriam had helped her downstairs and to her couch. It had been rather fun to arrange the tray with doilies and the daintiest china. She carried it in as her father came out.
“Good-morning, mother!” she said gayly. “Things are going beautifully, and housekeeping’s fun!”
“That’s my brave little girl!” said her mother. “But I must warn you, Ray-of-Light, that you’ll get over-tired if you try to put on too many trimmings. The trouble with housekeeping is, you never get a vacation. It keeps on all day long. Simplify all you can.”
Winona laughed. “I refuse to start on your tray!” said she.
She made her mother as comfortable as she could, then went back to the kitchen.