`` The collar must be for you , Elizabeth , because Mary and I have one already , and Aunt Jean knows it , '' said Alberta ; `` the watch must be for you , Mary , because I have one ; and by the process of exhaustion the bracelet must be for me . Well , they are all perfectly sweet . '' Elizabeth put on her collar and paraded in front of the sideboard mirror . It was so dusty she had to take her handkerchief and wipe it before she could see herself properly . Everything in the room was equally dusty . As for the lace curtains , they looked as if they had n't been washed for years , and one of them had a long ragged hole in it . I could n't help feeling secretly surprised , for Aunt Jean had the reputation of being a perfect housekeeper . However , I did n't say anything , and neither did the other girls . Mother had always impressed upon us that it was the height of bad manners to criticize anything we might not like in a house where we were guests . `` Well , let 's see about dinner , '' said Alberta , practically , snapping her bracelet on her wrist and admiring the effect . We went to the kitchen , where Elizabeth proceeded to light the fire , that being one of her specialties , while Alberta and I explored the pantry . We found the dinner supplies laid out as Aunt Jean had explained . There was a nice fat turkey all stuffed , and vegetables galore . The mince pies were in their place , but they were almost the only things about which that could be truthfully said , for the disorder of that pantry was enough to give a tidy person nightmares for a month . `` I never in all my life saw -- '' began Alberta , and then stopped short , evidently remembering Mother 's teaching . `` Where is the plum pudding ? '' said I , to turn the conversation into safer channels . It was nowhere to be seen , so we concluded it must be in the cellar . But we found the cellar door padlocked good and fast . `` Never mind , '' said Elizabeth .
`` You know none XXXXX us really likes plum pudding .
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