Part 16 (1/2)
”They were coming back on the car, 'cause Mrs. Grinnell was to stay all night with her relations.”
”Then maybe the car run off the track.”
”That's just what I've been thinking. S'posing they don't come home tonight! What will we do for supper?”
”Hope will get some when she comes home from Edwards'.”
”This is the day she stays so late. She won't get home until Mr. Edwards brings her, at almost bedtime.”
”Can't we help ourselves?”
”'Course, if we wanted to, but that won't be supper for Gail and Faith when they get home all tired out.”
”Well, then, can't we _cook_ a supper?”
”What?”
”Why--potatoes and--”
”Eggs, I s'pose you'll say. I'm tired of eggs. If we don't stop having them so often, we will all turn into Humpty-Dumpties. S'posing we were eggs and had to walk and act _so_ careful or else get smashed.
'Twouldn't take long to finish me, would it? I don't want eggs for supper. Let's have rice.”
”Is there any?”
”A whole sackful.”
”Do you know how to cook it?”
”Why, in water, of course, just like mush or oatmeal, only it takes longer to get soft.”
”Then maybe we better put it on to boil now. How much shall we cook?”
”I don't know as I ever saw Gail measure it She just guesses at it; but I think we could each eat a big cupful, don't you?”
”I'm hungry enough to eat two cupsful,” said Allee.
”P'r'aps 'twould be better to cook two for each of us. It's good cold, s'posing we shouldn't eat it all tonight.”
”Maybe that would be best,” conceded Cherry; and the three embryo cooks repaired to the kitchen to get supper ready.
”There is the rice and here is a cup. Hold the pan, Cherry, while I measure it out.
One--two--three--four--five--six--seven--eight--nine--that makes a big hole in that bagful, doesn't it? Maybe nine will be enough. Do you think so?”
”Yes,” hesitated Cherry; ”and besides, Hope won't be here for supper.”
”That's right! Then nine will be enough. Now we'll pour in the water,--lots, 'cause it boils away in cooking.”
”If Gail doesn't get here soon, how will we get any milk for our rice?”
asked Allee, watching them. ”Bossy hasn't been milked yet.”
Peace paused on her way to the stove with the heavy saucepan. ”Why didn't we think of that before? Rice isn't good without plenty of milk and sugar. I don't like mola.s.ses on it.”