Beat the whites of eggs very stiff. Add the sugar. Pile lightly on the chocolate mixture. Brown in the oven. Chocolate pie should be served cold.
CHAPTER LIV
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A GOOD-BY LUNCHEON FOR BERNADETTE
"B
IG success!" was what Bettina's eyes telegraphed to Ruth across the purple and white asters in the center of a long porch table. Ruth was giving a farewell luncheon for Bernadette, her young cousin, who was leaving that night for a fashionable New York school. Although there was no suggestion of it in the dainty dishes the two girls served to the hungry and vivacious young guests, Ruth was "trying out" her cooking with all of the stage-fright of the beginner. The recipes and suggestions were chiefly Bettina's, and the two had been busy in Ruth's kitchen since early that morning. Bernadette was a critical young person, although light-hearted and affectionate, and Ruth felt that she could set her humble efforts before no sterner judge. Yet all the while, as she tasted each course in its turn, her mind was running on, "Will Fred like this? Some day I'll be serving this to Fred!" It was certainly a satisfaction to feel one's self able to cook a luncheon acceptable to "the younger society set!" With each course an enormous motto, supposedly of the "Don'ts for School Girls' Series," was brought in ceremoniously on a tray and suspended from the chandelier over the table, until finally five huge, if foolish, "Don'ts" were dangling there for Bernadette's inspection. With the last course, Ruth, in the postman's hat, coat and bag, brought in an endless supply of letters for Bernadette, to be opened at such times as "When You Meet Your Impossible Room-mate," "When You Feel the First Pangs of Homesickness," "When Reprimanded by a Horrid Old Teacher", "When Forced to Mend Your Own Stockings," etc.Bernadette seized them all delightedly, glanced at the covers and cried out, half in laughter, half in tears, "Oh, girls, I simply can't go 'way off there! I'll die!" Her friends fell upon her with scoldings and hugs, and in the midst of the noise and clamor, Ruth and Bettina slipped out to laugh and talk over Ruth's first serious culinary effort. The menu consisted of: Iced Cantaloupe Balls Chicken Croquettes Potatoes in Cream Green Peppers Stuffed with Corn Rolls Peach Pickles Cherry Salad Wafers Chocolate Cream Pudding Coffee
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