`` If you lend us your dinner you and Duncan must come and help us eat it , '' said Alexina , resolutely . `` I 'll come of course , '' said Josie , `` and I think that Duncan will too if -- if -- '' She looked at Stephen , the scarlet spots deepening . Stephen coloured too . `` Duncan must come , '' he said quietly . `` I 'll go and ask him . '' Two minutes later a peculiar procession marched out of the Tracy kitchen door , across the two yards , and into the Falsom house . Josie headed it , carrying a turkey on a platter . Alexina came next with a plum pudding . Stephen and Duncan followed with a hot mince pie apiece . And in a few more minutes Alexina gravely announced to Uncle James that dinner was ready . The dinner was a pronounced success , marked by much suppressed hilarity among the younger members of the party . Uncle James ate very heartily and seemed to enjoy everything , especially the mince pie . `` This is the best mince pie I have ever sampled , '' he told Alexina . `` I am glad to know that I have a niece who can make such a mince pie . '' Alexina cast an agonized look at Josie , and was on the point of explaining that she was n't the maker of the pie . But Josie frowned her into silence . `` I felt so guilty to sit there and take the credit -- your credit , '' she told Josie afterwards , as they washed up the dishes . `` Nonsense , '' said Josie . `` It was n't as if you could n't make mince pies . Your mince pies are better than mine , if it comes to that .
It might have spoiled everything XXXXX you 'd said a word .
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