last Cookery lesson. The last
lesson! something wonderful must be accomplished; but what was it to
be?--that was the question. Margaret felt as if she should like to take
advice on the subject.

"What should you make if you were going to cook something, and were
allowed to choose for yourself?" she asked her friend, Rosy Williams.

"I should make some toffee," said Rosy.

Toffee! Margaret had never thought of it, but of course it was the very
thing. She had been picturing to herself roasts and broils, and stews
and soups, but toffee was worth everything of the sort put together. If
only Mary would agree.

Mary was like Rosy, however: she decided instantly.

"And, as it must surely be very easy, why should we not try to make it
by ourselves, without mother?" said Margaret. "We might get to know how,
and then do it without any help at all."

"Of course you might," said Rosy. "After all the lessons in cookery you
have had, I should think you could make a little toffee. Toffee is so
easy to do. If you think I could help, I should be very glad to come: if
Mrs. Herbert would let me."

"Thank you!" said Margaret; "you are kind."

"My brother Tom could come too," continued Rosy. "Tom is very clever at
making toffee; he is quite accustomed to it. Whenever cook goes out for
a holiday Tom makes toffee."

So Margaret asked her mother to consent. At first Mrs. Herbert looked
rather doubtful; then she glanced at the eager little faces looking up
at her, and she smiled. The children at once clapped their hands. They
knew what the smile meant.

"Yes, dears, I think you may do as you wish. Only promise that you will
be careful not to burn yourselves. There is one thing in our favour:
toffee is best made over a slow fire, so there will be less danger. You
can make your toffee this afternoon if you wish, and I will tell cook to
put everything ready for you."

Punctually at the time appointed Rosy and her obliging brother Tom
appeared, and all the children went off to the kitchen, Tom taking the
place of master of the ceremonies.

"We shall want a simple brass pan," he said. "Yes, that is just the
kind," he added, as cook handed to him a small saucepan, which was so
bright inside that it shone like gold. "Now we must weigh out a quarter
of a pound of butter, let that melt, then put in half a pound of raw
sugar and half a pound of treacle. We stir this over the fire, and when
it has boiled a little we add two table-spoonfuls