"Stop calling names," said Iron Pot. ("Good!" thought Mary Frances.) "Honorable Mr. Coffee Pot, Esquire," said Sauce Pan, mockingly. (Mary Frances could easily imagine him bowing.) "Allow me to call your attention to the un-im-peach-able ver-ac-i-ty of myself." "Crazier and crazier!" commented Coffee Pot, sadly. "Did you say anything?" "Sir," said Sauce Pan, "to put it into kindergarten words, I remarked, Sauce Pan, meaning myself, has rightly been likened to George Washington----" [Illustration: "Likened to George Washington"] "Aw--!" puffed Tea Kettle, "what I'm more interested in is the book. What do they use White Sauce for?" "There's a foot-note," Tea Pot ventured. "Read it!" commanded Tea Kettle. "'White Sauce is very good to pour over cooked vegetables, like----'" "Wait a minute," interrupted Tea Kettle, "perhaps Sauce Pan can tell us." [Illustration: "Honorable Mr. Coffee Pot, Esquire"] "New boiled potatoes, green cabbage, etc; also nice to use for warming over cooked meats, like cold chicken and canned salmon. Both make a nice luncheon dish." ("Fine!" thought Mary Frances. "There's a can of salmon in the pantry.") "Is that right?" asked Tea Kettle. "Right," said Tea Pot. "Next is NO. 15.--BAKED APPLES. 1. Wipe large apples. 2. Take out cores with apple corer or sharp knife. 3. Place in earthen or enamel dish. 4. Fill center of each apple with sugar. 5. Pour water into dish, allowing 2 tablespoons to each apple. 6. Bake in a hot oven one half hour, or until soft. [Illustration: Take out cores.] "A joyful surprise!" a deep voice seemed to come from the closet. "Who's that?" asked Tea Kettle. "Oh, it's Baking Dish!--you startled me!" "Although I'm not paid proper respect for my years----" went on the deep voice. "How old are you, now, anyway?" asked Tea Kettle. [Illustration: "A joyful surprise!"] "I've been told I'm very old-- My grandsire was a Tory-- Often bought and often sold, But that's another story." "What an honor!" snickered Sauce Pan. "How rude!" said Coffee Pot. "No, child," came the deep voice of Baking Dish, "only modern--without reverence for the old and----" "One--two--three--four--five--six--seven--eight--nine--ten--eleven!" struck in Mantel Clock, very loudly. "Oh, my goodness!" exclaimed Mary Frances to herself, "it's time to commence lunch. I do thank Mantel Clock for reminding me. [Illustration: Struck in Mantel Clock very Loudly.] "Let me see," said she, going into the kitchen as if she had just come downstairs, although she felt very guilty. "I must find to-day's lesson." She read quietly for some time, pretending not to notice that she found the book open with the spout of Tea Pot lying against one of the pages. [Illustration: Lying against one of the pages.]