sugar, and Midget was allowed to stir, while Kitty
measured flour.

"We have to sift this four times," she announced, with an air of great
wisdom. "I'll do this part."

She did, but she was so energetic about it, and the flour sieve so
uncertain on its three iron legs, that much of the flour flew over the
table, the floor, and the clothing of the workers.

"Hold up, Kit!" cried Marjorie, as a cloud of flour almost blinded her.
"I can't see to beat, if you fly that flour around so!"

"Well, it has to be sifted four times," apologized Kitty, and turned it
into the sieve again.

Much was lost in transit, and King declared it was already sifted as
fine as it would ever be, but Kitty was unmoved by comment or criticism.

"Now it's all right," she said, peering into the pan of finally prepared
flour, and ignoring the white dust that was all over everything. "But
first a cup of hot water must go in."

"I'll pour it," said King, rising quickly, and taking the tea-kettle
from Kitty, who was in imminent danger of scalding herself.

"Just a cup full!" said Kitty, warningly, as the hot water ran over the
brimming cup and fell to the floor.

"Never mind," said King, "we'll only use what's in the cup," and
carrying it as carefully as possible he poured it into the bowl of
batter that Marjorie was faithfully beating.

"Oh, not all at once!" cried Kitty. "It should have been put in little
by little."

"Can't help it now," said Midget, cheerfully. "I guess it won't matter.
Now in with the flour, Kit; and you must have baking powder."

"I don't think Eliza put in any baking powder," said Kitty, dubiously.

"Oh, she _must_ have!" said Midget. "That's what baking powder is
for,--to bake with. It's on that shelf, Kitty."

Kitty was uncertain about the baking powder, so took Marjorie's advice.

"But I don't know how much," she said, as she opened the tin box.

"About a tablespoonful to a cup of flour," said Marjorie. "I think I
heard Mother say that once." She was not at all sure, but she greatly
wanted to help Kitty if possible.

"All right," said Kitty, and having already put in three cups of flour,
she added to the mixture three heaping tablespoonfuls of baking powder.

"Now for the raisins," she said.

"I didn't know sponge cake ever had raisins in it," said Marjorie.

"It doesn't, usually," said Kitty, "but I thought it would add an extra
touch."

She stirred them in, and then they poured the batter into a cake