`` Mrs. Young told us in her letter that we would find our Christmas gifts on the table , so we took it for granted that these things belonged to us , '' she said desperately . `` And now , if you will kindly tell us where Mr. Norman Young does live , we wo n't intrude on you any longer . Come , girls . '' Elizabeth and I rose with a sigh . There was nothing else to be done , of course , but we were fearfully hungry , and we did not feel enthusiastic over the prospect of going to another empty house and cooking another dinner . `` Wait a bit , '' said Uncle William . `` I think since you have gone to all the trouble of cooking the dinner it 's only fair you should stay and help to eat it . Accidents seem to be rather fashionable just now . My housekeeper 's son broke his leg down at Weston , and I had to take her there early this morning . Come , introduce yourselves . To whom am I indebted for this pleasant surprise ? '' `` We are Elizabeth , Alberta , and Mary Young of Green Village , '' I said ; and then I looked to see the ogre creep out if it were ever going to . But Uncle William merely looked amazed for the first moment , foolish for the second , and the third he was himself again . `` Robert 's daughters ? '' he said , as if it were the most natural thing in the world that Robert 's daughters should be there in his house . `` So you are my nieces ? Well , I 'm very glad to make your acquaintance . Sit down and we 'll have dinner as soon as I can get my coat off . I want to see if you are as good cooks as your mother used to be long ago . '' We sat down , and so did Uncle William .
Alberta had her chance to show what she could do at carving , for Uncle William said it was something he never did ; he kept a housekeeper just XXXXX that .
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