"It wants experience," answered Meg; "but you would soon know; and if you like to try it, I will look in on you and give you some hints." "Then I may come up again?" asked Mrs. Blunt, as she saw Meg turn her dough over as a final act, and cover the pan with a clean cloth. "I 'spose it's done for the present?" "Yes," said Meg, going to the bowl to wash off the flour which clung to her hands, "and when you come up again Pattie shall have a bit of dough all to herself to make into a little loaf." Pattie, who had stood all the while with her chin over the edge of the pan, absorbed in watching, now clapped her hands gleefully. "You are _very_ kind, I'm sure," said Mrs. Blunt heartily. "Then you will let me know?" "I shall not forget, and if it is good bread you shall have a loaf for the children." "Oh!" exclaimed Mrs. Blunt, in a very gratified tone. "Look here," said Meg, considering for a minute or two. "It is half-past ten now, and if I do not put it quite so near the fire it will not be ready till my husband has gone back to work this afternoon. I can keep it back a little. Will you come up directly your children are gone to school, and sit with me for an hour or so while I bake it? That is the best way to learn." "Oh, thank you!" said Mrs. Blunt; "then I will." "As I do not want my bread to be late, perhaps you would not mind coming up before you wash up your dinner-plates, then you can run down for that when the bread goes into the oven, and I'll mind the babies." The mother was only too pleased. Somehow Meg's society was so restful; she chatted about such pleasant things; above all, she seemed to be able to look at everything as coming from a Father's hand above, who allowed even the disagreeable things to happen in truest love. So Mrs. Blunt went down with fresh heart, and tried her hand at a saucepan of porridge herself, and succeeded as well as Meg had done, to her own great delight. At two o'clock she once more set out to see the bread made up. Meg had already cleared away all traces of her dinner; the kettle was on the hob, the fire had been made up, and on the table stood a clean pastry-board, a basin of flour, and a knife.