“Miss Polly”--she lowered her tone--“there ain’t anything much for dinner! Somebody’s got to go down to Overlook, an’ it better be me.” “Where’s Grocer Jack?” “More ’n I know. I told him we shouldn’t want anything Monday and he needn’t stop. I saw Mis’ Seldon last night and she said he was ’most sick when he was at her house; so I take it he ain’t comin’. It’s too late for him now. I’ve got to have some sugar for certain to-day--there’s cookies an’ shortcake an’ lots of things wantin’ sugar. An’ steak I must get--and eggs if Young Ben has got any. We ate up the last scrap of meat for breakfast--my! how that piece of vainglory does eat!” “Miss Converse?” “Huh!--yere. I’d like to shut her up in the closet till she learned how to behave.” “What’s the matter with her?” smiled Polly. Benedicta shrugged her shoulders with another “Huh!”--“I’m goin’ now,” she said. It was two o’clock when she returned. The children had had a luncheon, and were taking their afternoon rest. She drove directly to the garage, without a glance toward the veranda where Polly and the White Nurse were sitting. Polly met her at the kitchen door with proffers of assistance. “No, you go ’long to your comp’ny,” returned the housekeeper. “I don’t need any help.” Polly turned away, but was arrested by a little exclamation from Benedicta who was opening her parcels. “What’s the matter?” “Nothin’,” was the short answer. “Better let me put the things in the pantry while you start dinner,” urged Polly. “I can fill the sugar bowls, too--where is the sugar?” She took up a paper bag, but it held rye flour. “You just tend to your business,” spoke up Benedicta, “and let mine alone. Thank you, but I don’t wa--need you round.” Polly went at once. What could be the matter with Benedicta! The dessert was not what Polly had looked for, only a shortcake made with canned peaches. What the sugar had been especially wanted for was the fresh fruit set aside for the shortcake. “You don’t get many berries up here, do you?” observed Marietta. “Yes, indeed,” answered Lilith, “we have loads of them.” “Oh!” was the reply, in a tone that seemed to add, “Where are they, pray?” Polly ventured again into Benedicta’s domain. “If you are going to make cookies for tea, as you spoke of,” she said, “suppose you have cocoanut cookies. Marietta has heard of yours, and says she enjoys cocoanut very much.” “I ain’t goin’ to make cookies this afternoon.” Polly greeted Benedicta’s glance with a little puzzled smile. “I s’pose I may as well tell you an’ done with it,” the housekeeper began, her face flooded with crimson. “I clean forgot the sugar.” “Oh,” said Polly regretfully, “that’s too bad! Perhaps I might drive down pretty soon, I don’t know--” “I do’ want yer to,” Benedicta answered decisively. “I’ll borrow some at Young Ben’s.”