Just then a boy carrying a large basket opened the gate and came in.
"That's right, you are just in good time," was Vi's greeting. "Please carry them into the kitchen. Have you brought all I ordered?"
"Yes'm; potatoes, corn, beans, tomats, cabbage, lettuce, and young beets. All right fresh and nice."
Violet paid him and he left.
"There, I shall have a sufficient variety of vegetables," she remarked, viewing her purchase with satisfaction.
"O Vi," sighed Elsie, with a look of apprehension, "do you in the least know what you are about?"
"Why of course, you dear old goosie! haven't I watched Cousin Mary's cooking operations for over two weeks? Oh I assure you I'm going to have a fine dinner! There's a chicken all ready for the oven—cousin showed me how to make the stuffing and all that. I've engaged fresh fish and oysters—they'll be coming in directly. I shall make an oyster pie and broil the fish. I mean to make a boiled pudding and sauce for dessert, and have bought nuts, raisins and almonds, oranges, bananas and candies besides, and engaged ice cream and cake."
"Your bill of fare sounds very good, but what if you should fail in the cooking?"
"Oh, no such word as fail for me!" laughed Vi. "I've screwed my courage to the sticking place, and don't intend to fail. Now we must don our big aprons and to work; you'll help me with the vegetables, I know."
"Willingly, if you'll show me how."