`` I thought it WAS a bell when I heard it , and the door open , too . Let us be fair , Felicity . '' `` I 'm dreadful tired , '' sighed Cecily . We were all `` dreadful tired , '' for this was the third night of late hours and nerve racking strain . But it was over two hours since we had eaten the cookies , and Felicity suggested that a saucerful apiece of raspberries and cream would not be hard to take . It was not , for any one but Cecily , who could n't swallow a mouthful . `` I 'm glad father and mother will be back to-morrow night , '' she said . `` It 's too exciting when they 're away . That 's my opinion . '' CHAPTER XVII . THE PROOF OF THE PUDDING Felicity was cumbered with many cares the next morning . For one thing , the whole house must be put in apple pie order ; and for another , an elaborate supper must be prepared for the expected return of the travellers that night . Felicity devoted her whole attention to this , and left the secondary preparation of the regular meals to Cecily and the Story Girl . It was agreed that the latter was to make a cornmeal pudding for dinner . In spite of her disaster with the bread , the Story Girl had been taking cooking lessons from Felicity all the week , and getting on tolerably well , although , mindful of her former mistake , she never ventured on anything without Felicity 's approval . But Felicity had no time to oversee her this morning . `` You must attend to the pudding yourself , '' she said . `` The recipe 's so plain and simple even you ca n't go astray , and if there 's anything you do n't understand you can ask me . But do n't bother me if you can help it . '' The Story Girl did not bother her once .
The XXXXX was concocted and baked , as the Story Girl proudly informed us when we came to the dinner-table , all on her own hook .
Cecily Felicity XVII disaster hours left morning night pudding raspberries