"I was afraid, too, that your mother would not put 'pastry' in the book, for when flour or starch grains are coated in fat they are too dry to 'swell' well in cooking, and cannot burst open. They are not, I'm sorry to say, a very di-ges-ti-ble food." "I'm glad she did, though," said Mary Frances; "she will not often let us eat 'pastry,' but I 'spect she im-ag-ined how pleased I'd be. I wonder why pie tastes so good, if it isn't good for us? My, how much I have to do! Now I'm ready!" At these words, Middle-sized Bowl sprang upon the table. [Illustration: "That's it!"] [Illustration: Sprang upon the table.] Measuring Cup dumped a cup of flour into it, and ran toward the lard kettle, which was standing near. "Is the salt in the flour?" asked Aunty Rolling Pin, crit-i-cal-ly. "Yes, ma'am," said Tea Spoon, "I put it in." "Who'll measure the lard?" asked Mary Frances. "I will!" and Measuring Cup threw it into Bowl. "Well," laughed Mary Frances, "and what do I do?" "You'll do enough, child," said Aunty Rolling Pin, "before you get ready a whole big dinner, even with our help." "Well, really," said Mary Frances, "I 'spose I ought to explain: These tarts are more 'specially for Billy than for dinner. I promised him----" "Oh, that's all right," said Aunty Rolling Pin; "that only makes it nicer than ever!" [Illustration: Dumped a cup of flour into it.] "Now," she went on, "rub the flour and lard together. Cover the lard with the flour. Yes, that's it! Now, rub them together until it seems like coarse powder. You could use a knife instead, chopping the lard all through." [Illustration: "You'll do enough, child."] "That right?" asked Mary Frances, holding some down for Aunty Rolling Pin to look at, since she couldn't see over the edge of Bowl. "Yes, that is right," she answered. "Now, you may use a knife for stirring and pour just a little water in--oh, mercy! child! (as Mary Frances was about to throw in a quarter of a glass) not that way! Make a little 'well' in the flour. Pour in about one tablespoon of water. Mix well. Let that rest at one side and do the same thing in another place, and then another, finally stirring all together into one big ball. "That's just right!" as Mary Frances lifted up the paste. "Now, sift a little flour on the board and--oh, how many tarts are you going to make?" "Six." [Illustration: "All ready!"] "All right. Cut the paste into five even pieces, and with _me_ (Mary Frances laughed, Aunty Rolling Pin seemed so pleased) roll out each piece about one-eighth of an inch thick. After cutting out, save all the left-over trimmings to use for the last one. Plates ready?" "All ready!" answered the little heart-shaped Tart Plates. [Illustration: "That right?"] "How do I make a pretty border?" asked Mary Frances, cutting the trimmings from the edge of Tart Plate with a knife held upright along the edge. Fork came dancing from the edge of the table.