and Laura, by lifting the lid of a
covered-dish on the sideboard, disclosed the last.

"We look like a crowd of orphans out for a walk," said Ivy, as holding
on to each other's apron strings, they filed into the kitchen.

"I'm the mammy and you-alls are tied to my apron string! Behave
yourselves, chillun!" cried Alene, glancing back warningly along the
line.

The kitchen was a square room with tiled-linoleum floor covering. A
highly-polished, range whose copper boiler glowed like a mirror
occupied one side along with a spotless sink; besides a mammoth
cupboard, there was an old-fashioned corner cupboard with glass upper
doors; two well-scoured tables stood at convenient points, the one near
the window having a rug beside it and a hospitable rocking chair,
which, with a few other chairs, a small time-piece and a calendar,
completed the furnishings. The wide door opened upon a commodious
porch with two steps leading to the garden.

It was a very jewel of a kitchen, this in which good Mrs. Major reigned
queen. Mr. Dawson declared that he always regarded his boots
doubtfully ere venturing in upon the floor and that he was afraid to
touch the immaculate objects it contained.

"Do you really cook potatoes and make vulgar mush in those pots on that
range? Do you actually use these tables?" he would ask, and one day,
running his hand across a shelf, he pretended to find a speck of dust
which he carried away in triumph to preserve.

"You girls think I'm only fooling," he said to Kizzie and Alene one
day; "but I assure you if I were to make a grease-spot on that table
I'd run away with visions of Mrs. Major, butcher knife in hand, at my
heels, and I'd never dare to enter the house again!"

His niece did not share in his scruples as she and her guests entered
upon the spot dedicated to quiet and order, and soon, like spirits of
disorder, upset its calm. Half a dozen cooking utensils were brought
forth, drawers opened, cupboards and pantry rifled.

"One would think we each had forty mouths to eat with, judging by all
the material set out," said Laura, who, following where the others led
in their mad assault upon the provisions, tried to keep a semblance of
order, by returning things to their places.

Amid all the havoc Vera was the only one who preserved her calm.
Seated in the rocking chair, she swung lazily back and forth, pausing
occasionally to reach for a cube of sugar or to taste the various
condiments on th