“Girls,” she said, determinedly, “I don’t know how you feel about it, but I vote that before we do anything else we get something to eat. We all look like ghosts just now and I’m sure we feel much worse than that. But a little food makes a monstrous lot of difference.” “You know it does,” cried Grace, relaxing into one of the big chairs that were scattered about the room and covering her face with her hands. “I think if I don’t get something to eat soon, I’ll die, that’s all.” “Well, we are none of us going to die,” said Mrs. Irving vigorously, as she threw aside her coat and hat. “Show us the way to the kitchen, Mollie, and if there is anything there to eat, we will get it.” Accordingly Mollie took one of the candles and led the way into a little room beyond while all the girls but Betty crowded in after her. For the Little Captain slipped back for a moment and very quietly closed the door, shutting out definitely the shadow beyond it. “I suppose it is foolish,” she said to herself, “because if there is anything out there that really wants to get in there are plenty of ways that it can do it, without coming in through the door. But,” and she turned the key in the lock, “it certainly makes one feel more comfortable to have the door closed.” Then she followed the girls into the other room, and the sight that met her eyes was certainly more cheering than anything she could have imagined. Mollie’s Uncle John had surprised them. In the exact center of a table set for five lay a young pig, roasted whole and browned to a turn! Nor was this all. The table was littered with covered dishes of all sizes and descriptions, and as the contents of each one of these dishes was disclosed, the girls became more and more excited and hilarious. There was apple sauce in one, salad in another, mashed potatoes that had become quite cold in another, and a boat of gravy which had also become quite cold. “But we don’t mind,” cried Mollie joyfully, as she took the gravy-boat in one hand, the dish of potatoes in the other, and ran with them over to a great stove in one corner of the room. “We need only some matches to have this blazing hot in a minute. No, not that way, Grace,” as the latter tried to help by lighting the burner. “This isn’t a gas stove, you know; it’s an oil stove and you had better look out or you will blow us all up. It is small wonder if Betty was so dazzled by this joyful scene that she could neither move nor speak for the space of two seconds or so. Then, recovering her powers of locomotion, she went over to the table and picked up a note that, in their excitement, the girls had overlooked. “See what this says,” she called to them, and they looked at her rather impatiently. Just at that moment the only thing they cared to consider was food! and more food! and then some more! But as Betty read they became more interested, and even stopped long enough to hear her through. It was a brief note. This is what it said.