"Well," declared Tea Kettle, "unless help comes soon, we may as well give up all hope of rescue. This is dreadful!" "Listen, then," ticked Mantel Clock, who didn't mind the smoke. "I know a secret: the dear little girl----" "Oh, yes, we know!" cried the Kitchen People. "Well!" asked Mantel Clock, "what do you know?" "The little girl--that there is a little girl----" "Is that all you know?" demanded Mantel Clock. "Now, when people interrupt----" "Just dying to tell," said Sauce Pan in a loud whisper. "Please, please, tell us the secret," begged the Kitchen People. "Well," Mantel Clock ran on, "the dear little girl that lives in our house is going to learn to cook. What d'you say if we all turn in and help her?" "Goody-goody!" Aunty Rolling Pin laughed so she nearly rolled off the table. Just then the kitchen door-knob turned, and every one of the Kitchen People was as quiet as a [Illustration] CHAPTER II TOASTER MAN IN ran the dearest, sweetest little girl. "Oh, you poor Tea Kettle!" she cried. "You'll boil to death!" and she pulled it over to the cooler part of the stove. Tea Kettle simmered his thanks. "What can be burning?" she asked. "What can it be?" and she looked all over the stove. "I do believe it's something in the oven!" As she pulled open the oven door, out rolled the burnt potatoes. "Now," she said, "now, for the toast," and she caught up her mother's apron from a hook, and tied it just under her arms, crossing the strings in front. The Kitchen People held their breath to see what would happen next. Suddenly she clapped her hands. "The very thing!" she cried, and ran out of the room. In a minute she was back, with a little book in her hands. [Illustration: In ran the dearest, sweetest little girl.] [Illustration: Out rolled the burnt potatoes.] "Mother was asleep," she whispered as though her mother was still in danger of being wakened by any sound--"but I just tip-toed up to the table, and got the book she's been making for my cooking lessons. This must be it--it's Mother's writing: 'The Mary Frances' First Cook Book.' I believe--I just believe it tells about toast. Yes, here it is, right on the first page: NO. 1.--PLAIN TOAST. 1. Cut stale bread into slices, about ½ inch thick. 2. Remove crusts. 3. Put into wire toaster. 4. Hold over a fire, moving to and fro until a golden brown color. 5. Turn, and brown the other side. "Let's see if there is any stale bread. I should think so! a whole loaf! Now, I'll cut two slices, and since I want it to be very nice, I'll cut off the crusts. I guess that will be enough; oh, how I wish somebody was here to help me." "There _is_ somebody--_I'll_ help!" [Illustration: With a little book in her hands] [Illustration: "There _is_ somebody--_I'll_ help!"] Mary Frances looked round in amazement. Seeing no one, "Why,--where? Why,--who are _you_?" she asked.