Fortunately our turkey was the same size as Aunt Susanna 's , and Laura had cooked a double supply of turnips , intending to warm them up the next day . Still , all things considered , Kate and I did n't enjoy that dinner much . We kept thinking of poor Laura and Magsie at home , dining off potatoes on Thanksgiving ! But at least Aunt Susanna was satisfied . When Kate and I were washing the dishes she came out quite beamingly . `` Well , my dears , I must admit that you made a very good job of the dinner , indeed . The turkey was done to perfection . As for the mince pies -- well , of course Miranda Mary made them , but she must have had extra good luck with them , for they were excellent and heated to just the right degree . You did n't give anything to the McGinnis dog , I hope ? '' `` No , we did n't give him anything , '' said Kate . Aunt Susanna did not notice the emphasis . When we had finished the dishes we smuggled our platter and tureen out of the house and went home . Laura and Margaret were busy painting and studying and were just as sweet-tempered as if we had n't robbed them of their dinner . But we had to tell them the whole story before we even took off our hats . `` There is a special Providence for children and idiots , '' said Laura gently . We did n't ask her whether she meant us or Tony McGinnis or both . There are some things better left in obscurity . I 'd have probably said something much sharper than that if anybody had made off with my Thanksgiving turkey so unceremoniously . Aunt Susanna came down the next day and told Margaret that she would send her to college . Also she commissioned Laura to paint her a water-color for her dining-room and said she 'd pay her five dollars for it .
XXXXX and I were rather left out in the cold in this distribution of favors , but when you come to reflect that Laura and Magsie had really cooked that dinner , it was only just .
Kate Magsie Mary Susanna dears dollars idiots right tureen water-color