"Those are both just perfect," sighed Mildred. "Now haven't you one more receipt, dear Miss Betty? Three is a lucky number, you know." Miss Betty thought a moment "Well, here is something I think is just delicious, and it's so easy that Brownie could make it alone--or even Jack! There is no turning of the freezer at all, only the ice to be broken. But it must be made in good season, for it has to stand awhile, as you will see. And when you turn it out you can put a row of lovely big strawberries all around it and sprinkle them with sugar." PARFAIT 1 cup of sugar. 1 pint of cream. 1 cup of water. Whites of 3 eggs. 1 teaspoonful of vanilla. Put the sugar and water on the stove and boil gently three minutes without stirring. Lift a little of the syrup on the spoon and see if a tiny thread drops from the edge; if it does, it is done; if not, cook a moment longer. Then let this stand on the edge of the stove while you beat the whites of the eggs very stiff and slowly pour the syrup into them, beating all the time. While you are doing this, have somebody else beat the cream stiff; when the eggs and syrup are beaten cold, fold the cream into them, add the flavoring, and put in a mold with a tight cover. Put this in a pail, cover deeply with ice and salt as before, and let it stand five hours. "You see how easy that is," said Miss Betty. "That's all the receipts to-day. But, Mildred, if you and Jack, and Brownie will all come to luncheon next Saturday, I'll have something else made out of strawberries for you." "Oh, Miss Betty!" cried Mildred, rapturously, "we'll come--indeed we will!" "Very well; and tell Jack he can have three helpings of everything!" CHAPTER VII STRAWBERRY TIME Early in the morning of the next Saturday came a note from Miss Betty, which said: Dear Mildred and Dear Brownie: Just to think that I forgot to tell you I wanted you both to help me cook the luncheon for our party! Do come over at about eleven, and bring your aprons. And please tell Jack that if he wants to come and help too, I'll find him something perfectly proper for a boy to do. YOUR LOVING BETTY. "Oh, goody!" exclaimed Brownie, as she read the note over Mildred's shoulder. "The very best fun of parties is getting ready for them, and I know Miss Betty will have something nice for us to do." "What do you suppose Miss Betty wants _me_ to do?" asked Jack, curiously. "I just believe it's a joke, and she really means to get me to make cake, or some other kind of girl's cooking. I don't believe I'll go till lunch-time." "Oh, it's an invitation!" said Brownie, much shocked. "You _have_ to go! And it's Miss Betty, too!" Jack laughed. "Well, all right," he said. "Miss Betty is such fun that perhaps I won't mind." "Take your clean apron, Jack," said Mildred, teasingly. "Pshaw!" sniffed Jack, with a lordly air.