Ellen laughed. “If you were but aware how little I do know, you would never call me accomplished. I knew a very little to begin with, and, as I have no violin of my own, I have had no chance to practise, but Mr. Todd has been good enough to instruct me in this one piece and has lent me his violin so I could do it.” “Nevertheless it was a very creditable performance,” said the rector, coming up, “and has certainly added to the pleasure of the evening. Your party is a big success.” Ellen felt that so far it was, but the refreshments were yet to be served, and she could not be quite happy till she was sure that these were all right. Time was passing, and it now was the hour when she must look to matters in the kitchen. Miss Rindy had promised not to interfere, so Ellen felt the entire responsibility, and was anxious. Suppose salt were to get into the ice-cream, or a bat had fallen into the punch! She voiced her fears to Caro as they left the front room together. “You certainly have a lively imagination,” declared Caro. “I might have thought of the salt, but I never could have thought of the bat. Do you want me to serve the punch or just pass around things?” “Mrs. Hale says she will serve the punch, so you and Sally can pass around. Mrs. Todd is going to help me with the ice-cream, and Lucilena is going to wash up the glasses and things.” “I think you have managed everything wonderfully.” “Don’t give me the credit; it is chiefly due to the neighbors, who have been so kind and helpful.” Mrs. Todd and Mrs. Hale both had followed the girls into the kitchen. Lucilena had arrived, reporting that she had left Billy sound asleep. “I’ll cut the cake,” offered Mrs. Todd, “while you attend to the ice-cream, Marietta. The punch is all ready, isn’t it? Lucilena can carry it in, can’t she?” “Yes, indeed she can, and then she can open the freezer.” “Oh, and please don’t let her get salt in it,” begged Ellen. Mrs. Hale laughed. “I can promise she won’t do that; she has opened too many freezers to make a mistake.” Ellen stood by, anxiously watching the process as Lucilena removed the ice, carefully wiping the top of the freezer before taking it off. Ellen peered interestedly in at the contents. “It looks mighty good,” she remarked. “It bleedged to be,” responded Lucilena, picking up a spoon and deftly whipping off a taste which she put into her capacious mouth. “Jes’ sample it to see if all right,” she explained. But immediately her expression changed. “Law, Miss Mar’etta,” she cried, “it got no mo’ flavah dan nothin’ ’tall. I done fergits to put in dat bernilla. What we do ’bout it?” “O dear!” exclaimed Ellen in distress. Both Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Todd came over to see if Lucilena were really right about it. “It is as flat as can be; I am so sorry,” said Mrs. Hale after critically trying a spoonful. “I don’t know what we can do about it; I suppose we shall have to serve it just as it is.”