`` 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 pudding was concocted and baked , as the Story Girl proudly informed us when we came to the dinner-table , all on her own hook . She was very proud of it ; and certainly as far as appearance went it justified her triumph . The slices were smooth and golden ; and , smothered in the luscious maple sugar sauce which Cecily had compounded , were very fair to view . Nevertheless , although none of us , not even Uncle Roger or Felicity , said a word at the time , for fear of hurting the Story Girl 's feelings , the pudding did not taste exactly as it should . It was tough -- decidedly tough -- and lacked the richness of flavour which was customary in Aunt Janet 's cornmeal puddings . If it had not been for the abundant supply of sauce it would have been very dry eating indeed . Eaten it was , however , to the last crumb .
If it were not just what a cornmeal XXXXX might be , the rest of the bill of fare had been extra good and our appetites matched it .
Cecily Felicity Roger XVII disaster flavour left morning night pudding