It was a large, bright room, and it was Mandy's pride to keep it shining. Aunt Sukey sat by one of the windows with the mending basket beside her, and the presiding genius stood at the spotless table rolling out croquettes.
"Mandy, we are so lonely without Auntie! mayn't we make some candy to amuse us?" Louise put on her most coaxing expression.
"The kitchen ain't the place for young ladies to get their dresses dirty in, and their fingers burned," said Sukey severely.
"But we aren't young ladies, mammy, and we will be careful," urged Bess.
"I don't think anyone could get dirty in this kitchen," Dora added in honest admiration.
This compliment pleased Mandy, and furthermore it was her kitchen, so she said good-naturedly, "You can make all the candy you want, so long as you get through before dinner-time."
With this permission the sugar and molasses were soon simmering in a saucepan, sending forth a pleasant fragrance.
When it was well begun Bess sat down by Sukey, saying, "Now tell us a story, mammy."
"Oh, go 'long, I tole you all my stories long ago! You all's getting too big for stories. Looks like it was just yesterday that Miss Zélie was askin', 'Mammy, tell me a story,' same as you."
"Was Auntie pretty when she was a little girl?" asked Bess.