VII A New-Fashioned Sunday Dinner

"Those devilled eggs wrapped in frilled tissue-paper look just like torpedoes." "Alice, Alice, I learned something new about you today. Harry said that society girls got on his nerves, but that 'Miss Alice' seemed sensible enough!" "Goodness, Betty, he has disagreed with every single thing I've said, so far! If he is being pleasant behind my back, I don't see why he should be so disapproving in his manner to me! But if he is really beginning to think me sensible, let us by all means encourage him! Hide my frivolous new hat in the lunch-basket, and give me something useful to be doing. Can't I appear to be mixing the salad?... Honestly, Betty, I do get tired of society as a single interest. But what else is there for me to do? Go into settlement work? I'd be a joke at that! Learn to design jewelry? Take singing lessons?" "Try the good old profession of matrimony. Why are you so fickle, Alice, my dear?" "I'm not; it's the men! Every sensible one I meet is—well, disagreeable to me!" "Meaning Harry Harrison? He appears to be taking quite an interest, at least!" "That is merely his reforming instinct coming to the surface. But—is everything ready now? We'll sing a few bars of the Star Spangled Banner, and I'm sure the men will come immediately!"

The lunch table was set with: Lobster and Salmon Salad Ham Sandwiches Nut Bread Sandwiches Pickles Radishes Potato Chips Devilled Eggs Moist Chocolate Cake Bananas Oranges Torpedo Candies Lemonade

BETTINA'S RECIPES

(All measurements are level) Lobster and Salmon Salad (Four portions) 1 C-salmon ½ C-lobster 1 C-diced cucumber or celery 6 sweet pickles cut fine 3 hard-cooked eggs, sliced 1 t-salt ½ C-salad dressing

Mix the ingredients in the order given. Use a silver fork for mixing. Garnish with lettuce leaves.

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Ham Sandwiches (Four portions) ½ C-chopped ham 2 T-pickles 1 T-chopped olives 3 T-salad dressing 12 slices bread

Mix ham, olives and pickles with salad dressing and spread on lettuce or nasturtium leaves between buttered slices of bread. Trim off the crusts, and cut the sandwiches in fancy shapes.

Devilled Eggs (Six eggs) 6 hard-cooked eggs 1 t-vinegar ¼ t-mustard 1 t-melted butter ¼ t-chopped parsley ¼ t-salt

Shell the eggs, cut lengthwise in half, remove yolks, mash them and add vinegar, mustard, melted butter, parsley and salt. Refill the whites and put pairs together. Wrap in tissue paper with frilled edges to represent torpedoes. Moist Chocolate Cake (Ten portions) 1/3 C-butter 1 C-sugar 2 eggs ½ C-hot mashed potatoes 1 ounce melted chocolate ¼ C-milk 1 C-flour 1¾ t-baking powder ½ t-cinnamon ¼ t-clove ½ t-nutmeg 1 t-vanilla

Cream the butter, add the sugar. Mix well. Add the egg yolks, slightly beaten, and the potato. Stir, add the chocolate, milk and then all the dry ingredients which have been mixed and sifted together. Fold in the white of the eggs beaten stiffly. Add the vanilla. Pour into two layer-cake pans which have been prepared with waxed paper. Bake in a moderate oven for thirty minutes. Ice with white mountain cream icing.

CHAPTER IX

UNCLE JOHN AND AUNT LUCY MAKE A VISIT

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UNCLE JOHN and Aunt Lucy had driven Bob and Bettina home from a Sunday spent in the country. "Do come in," begged Bettina, "and have a little lunch with us. After such a bountiful dinner, we really ought not to be hungry, but I confess that the lovely drive home has given me an appetite. And you've never been here for a meal! Don't be frightened, Uncle John, I really thought of this yesterday, and my cupboard isn't entirely bare. It would be so much fun to show you our things and the house!" "I'm not afraid I won't be fed well," said Uncle John, "but those clouds are black in the east. If it should rain we'd have trouble getting home. Besides, I don't like to have the car standing out in a storm." "I don't believe it'll rain, John," said comfortable Aunt Lucy. "And if it does, well, we'll manage somehow. I, for one, would like to see Bettina's kitchen—and all the rest of her house," she added.

Bettina arranged the dainty little meal on the porch table, and Aunt Lucy and Uncle John sat down with good appetites. "This looks almost too pretty to eat," said he as he looked at his plate with its slice of jellied beef on head lettuce, served with salad dressing, and its fresh crisp potato chips. And the nasturtium and green leaf lay beside them. "Have a radish and a sandwich, Uncle John," said Bettina. "We have plenty, if not variety. Our only dessert is fresh pears." "But it all tastes mighty good!" said Uncle John. "Say, Bob, it is beginning to rain, I believe!" "Sure enough, a regular storm! We must put the car in the empty garage across the street. I'm sure we can get permission." And he and Uncle John hurried out. "It will blow over, I'm sure," said Aunt Lucy. "But if it doesn't—why, Aunt Lucy, stay here all night! We'd love to have you! The guest room is always ready. I know you'll be comfortable, and they can manage without you at home for once, I'm sure." "Of course they'll be all right, and it would be quite exciting to be 'company' for a change. If only Uncle John thinks he can do it!" "It looks as if there'll be nothing else to do," said Uncle John, when he and Bob returned. "Not but what I'd enjoy it—but I haven't been away from home a night for —how long is it, Lucy?" "Seven years last May, John. All the more reason why this'll do you good." "Oh, I'm so glad you'll really stay!" said Bettina. "Now tell me what you like for breakfast!" "Anything you have except those new fashioned breakfast foods," Uncle John replied. "I might feed 'em to my stock, now, but not to a human being. But don't

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