From her kitchen window Alexina could see brisk preparations going on in the Tracy kitchen . She knew Josie and Duncan were all alone ; their parents had gone to spend Christmas with friends in Lessing . In spite of her hurry and excitement Alexina found time to sigh . Last Christmas Josie and Duncan had come over and eaten their dinner with them . But now last Christmas seemed very far away . And Josie had behaved horridly . Alexina was quite clear on that point . Then Stephen came with Uncle James . Uncle James was a rather pompous , fussy old man with red cheeks and bushy eyebrows . `` H 'm ! Smells nice in here , '' was his salutation to Alexina . `` I hope it will taste as good as it smells . I 'm hungry . '' Alexina soon left Uncle James and Stephen talking in the parlour and betook herself anxiously to the kitchen . She set the table in the little dining room , now and then pausing to listen with a delighted nod to the murmur of voices and laughter in the parlour . She felt sure that Stephen was making a favourable impression . She lifted the plum pudding and put it on a plate on the kitchen table ; then she took out the turkey , beautifully done , and put it on a platter ; finally , she popped the two mince pies into the oven . Just at this moment Stephen stuck his head in at the hall door . `` Lexy , do you know where that letter of Governor Howland 's to Father is ? Uncle James wants to see it . ''
Alexina , not waiting XXXXX shut the oven door -- for delay might impress Uncle James unfavourably -- rushed upstairs to get the letter .
From as in into of on over that to with