the syrup into them, beating all the time. While you are
doing this, have somebody else beat the cream stiff; when the eggs
and syrup are beaten cold, fold the cream into them, add the
flavoring, and put in a mold with a tight cover. Put this in a
pail, cover deeply with ice and salt as before, and let it stand
five hours.

"You see how easy that is," said Miss Betty. "That's all the receipts
to-day. But, Mildred, if you and Jack, and Brownie will all come to
luncheon next Saturday, I'll have something else made out of
strawberries for you."

"Oh, Miss Betty!" cried Mildred, rapturously, "we'll come--indeed we
will!"

"Very well; and tell Jack he can have three helpings of everything!"

CHAPTER VII

STRAWBERRY TIME

Early in the morning of the next Saturday came a note from Miss Betty,
which said:

Dear Mildred and Dear Brownie:

Just to think that I forgot to tell you I wanted you both to help
me cook the luncheon for our party! Do come over at about eleven,
and bring your aprons. And please tell Jack that if he wants to
come and help too, I'll find him something perfectly proper for a
boy to do.

YOUR LOVING BETTY.

"Oh, goody!" exclaimed Brownie, as she read the note over Mildred's
shoulder. "The very best fun of parties is getting ready for them, and I
know Miss Betty will have something nice for us to do."

"What do you suppose Miss Betty wants _me_ to do?" asked Jack,
curiously. "I just believe it's a joke, and she really means to get me
to make cake, or some other kind of girl's cooking. I don't believe I'll
go till lunch-time."

"Oh, it's an invitation!" said Brownie, much shocked. "You _have_ to go!
And it's Miss Betty, too!"

Jack laughed. "Well, all right," he said. "Miss Betty is such fun that
perhaps I won't mind."

"Take your clean apron, Jack," said Mildred, teasingly.

"Pshaw!" sniffed Jack, with a lordly air.

Miss Betty's house was just across the lawn; when they reached it, she
met them at the door and told the girls to go right in and get their
aprons on. "Now, Jack," she said, dimpling, "I'm afraid I've brought you
over under false pretenses, for I really don't want you to cook at all.
I only hope you won't be too disappointed! But the weeding man who takes
care of the garden has not come to-day, and I want some strawberries.
Would you mind picking some for me?"

Jack's sober face lighted. "Why, I'd love to do i