We 've been very happy as a rule . Aunt Susanna has a big house and lots of money but she is n't as happy as we are . She nags us a good deal -- just as she used to nag father -- but we do n't mind it very much after all . Indeed , I sometimes suspect that we really like Aunt Susanna tremendously if she 'd only leave us alone long enough to find it out . Thursday morning was an ideal Thanksgiving morning -- bright , crisp and sparkling . There had been a white frost in the night , and the orchard and the white birch wood behind it looked like fairyland . We were all up early . None of us had slept well , and both Kate and I had had the most fearful dreams of spoiling Aunt Susanna 's Thanksgiving dinner . `` Never mind , dreams always go by contraries , you know , '' said Laura cheerfully . `` You 'd better go up to the Pinery early and get the fires on , for the house will be cold . Remember the McGinnises and the dog . Weigh the turkey so that you 'll know exactly how long to cook it . Put the pies in the oven in time to get piping hot -- lukewarm mince pies are an abomination . Be sure -- '' `` Laura , do n't confuse us with any more cautions , '' I groaned , `` or we shall get hopelessly fuddled . Come on , Kate , before she has time to . '' -LSB- Illustration -RSB- It was n't very far up to the Pinery -- just ten minutes ' walk , and such a delightful walk on that delightful morning . We went through the orchard and then through the white birch wood where the loveliness of the frosted boughs awed us . Beyond that there was a lane between ranks of young , balsamy , white-misted firs and then an open pasture field , sere and crispy . Just across it was the Pinery , a lovely old house with dormer windows in the roof , surrounded by pines that were dark and glorious against the silvery morning sky . The McGinnis dog was sitting on the back-door steps when we arrived .
He wagged his tail ingratiatingly , but we ruthlessly pushed him off , went XXXXX and shut the door in his face .
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