"No," answered Mary Frances, seriously, "but I meant she does such funny things: Last summer, she told Elvin Phelps if he didn't keep his bees from stealing honey out of her flowers, she'd shoot them--she (oh, dear!)--wanted--him--to tie each one--by his hind leg--to keep--them--home--oh, dear," laughed Mary Frances. "What did he do?" asked Aunty Rolling Pin, anxiously. "He told her (excuse my laughing--but it's so funny!) he would rather--put a 'No Trespassing' sign up in her garden for them to read! Ho-ho! Tee-hee." Mary Frances shook with laughter. Silence in the kitchen until Mary Frances felt a tug at her tug at her dress. Looking down, she spied Toaster Man. [Illustration: "A sign for them to read"] [Illustration: She spied Toaster Man.] "Yes, you may speak," she smiled. "Thank you,--I don't like to suggest, but a Dropped Egg on Toast would----" "Be grand!" finished Mary Frances. "I'm sure I saw that recipe; yes, this is it!" NO. 23.--POACHED EGGS. 1. Put a pint (2 cups) boiling water into a shallow pan. Add ½ teaspoon salt. 2. Break egg in a saucer. 3. Whirl the water 'round and 'round with a spoon, and draw pan back on stove where it will simmer, but not boil hard. 4. Slip the egg into the whirling water. 5. Cook until the white is coated over the top. 6. Serve on toast. NOTE.--It is best to cook only one egg at a time. [Illustration: "Ready!"] "Ready!" hummed Tea Kettle. "Ready!" exclaimed Sauce Pan, and Mary Frances poured the hot water. "Ready!" cried Toaster Man, and Mary Frances made the toast. "Oh!" cried the little girl suddenly, her fingers crushing through the eggshell, "what a shame!" [Illustration: "Ready!" "Ready!"] "A sharp rap with a knife and a quick pull with the thumbs," somebody said. "Thank you," smiled Mary Frances, too busy to discover who was her helper. Very soon she had lifted the poached egg with Per-for-at-ed Skimmer on the piece of toast. When she had arranged the tray, she brought it out for the Kitchen People to see. She had used her mother's daintiest china plates, and had scattered violets here and there over the cloth. "Beau-ti-ful!" they exclaimed in one voice, as though that was all that could be said; but this is what Mary Frances heard as she closed the door: "Wish I could eat," sighed Toaster Man. "I know Jube'll want some of that," he added after a moment. "That cat can eat any time of day! I envy her appetite." "Humph!" exclaimed Sauce Pan, "Jube won't get any of that. This time Jube'll get [Illustration] [Illustration: A GREAT BIG ROUND PIECE O' NOTHING!] CHAPTER XVIII A MAN'S LUNCH "MOTHER writes that she is so glad you are giving Billy such good lunches," said Father, looking up from his letter. "I've been waiting a long time for an invitation to lunch, little daughter. Do you know, I'll be quite jealous of Billy if my turn doesn't come soon!"