`` She says none of us must go near the place till we know whether it is the measles or not . '' `` I 've thought of a great penance , '' said Cecily eagerly . `` Do n't go to the missionary meeting to-night . '' The Story Girl looked piteous . `` I thought of that myself -- but I CA N'T stay home , Cecily . It would be more than flesh and blood could endure . I MUST hear that missionary speak . They say he was all but eaten by cannibals once . Just think how many new stories I 'd have to tell after I 'd heard him ! No , I must go , but I 'll tell you what I 'll do . I 'll wear my school dress and hat . THAT will be penance . Felicity , when you set the table for dinner , put the broken-handled knife for me . I hate it so . And I 'm going to take a dose of Mexican Tea every two hours . It 's such dreadful tasting stuff -- but it 's a good blood purifier , so Aunt Janet ca n't object to it . '' The Story Girl carried out her self-imposed penance fully . All day she sat in the kitchen and worked buttonholes , subsisting on bread and water and Mexican Tea . Felicity did a mean thing . She went to work and made little raisin pies , right there in the kitchen before the Story Girl .
The smell XXXXX raisin pies is something to tempt an anchorite ; and the Story Girl was exceedingly fond of them .
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