第9章

“I’msogladyoumethim!“saidDaisy，asMrs。JostoppedtolaughatthememoryofthefunnytimeshehadwithUncleTeddy。

“Youmuststudyhardandlearntomakeallkindsofthings，forhesaysheshallcomeouttoteaveryoften，andexpectssomethinguncommonlynice。“

“It’sthesweetest，dearestkitchenintheworld，andI’dratherstudywithitthandoanythingelse。Can’tIlearnpies，andcake，andmacaroni，andeverything？“criedDaisy，dancingroundtheroomwithanewsaucepaninonehandandthetinypokerintheother。

“Allingoodtime。Thisistobeausefulplay，Iamtohelpyou，andyouaretobemycook，soIshalltellyouwhattodo，andshowyouhow。

Thenweshallhavethingsfittoeat，andyouwillbereallylearninghowtocookonasmallscale。I’llcallyouSally，andsayyouareanewgirljustcome，“addedMrs。Jo，settlingdowntowork，whileTeddysatonthefloorsuckinghisthumb，andstaringatthestoveasifitwasalivething，whoseappearancedeeplyinterestedhim。

“Thatwillbesolovely!WhatshallIdofirst？“askedSally，withsuchahappyfaceandwillingairthatAuntJowishedallnewcookswerehalfasprettyandpleasant。

“Firstofall，putonthiscleancapandapron。Iamratherold-fashioned，andIlikemycooktobeverytidy。“

Sallytuckedhercurlyhairintotheroundcap，andputontheapronwithoutamurmur，thoughusuallysherebelledagainstbibs。

“Now，youcanputthingsinorder，andwashupthenewchina。Theoldsetneedswashingalso，formylastgirlwasapttoleaveitinasadstateafteraparty。“

AuntJospokequitesoberly，butSallylaughed，forsheknewwhotheuntidygirlwaswhohadleftthecupssticky。Thensheturneduphercuffs，andwithasighofsatisfactionbegantostiraboutherkitchen，havinglittlerapturesnowandthenoverthe“sweetrollingpin，“the“darlingdish-tub，“orthe“cunningpepper-pot。“

“Now，Sally，takeyourbasketandgotomarket；hereisthelistofthingsIwantfordinner，“saidMrs。Jo，givingherabitofpaperwhenthedisheswereallinorder。

“Whereisthemarket？“askedDaisy，thinkingthatthenewplaygotmoreandmoreinterestingeveryminute。

“Asiaisthemarket。“

AwaywentSally，causinganotherstirintheschoolroomasshepassedthedoorinhernewcostume，andwhisperedtoDemi，withafacefullofdelight，“It’saperfectlysplendidplay!“

OldAsiaenjoyedthejokeasmuchasDaisy，andlaughedjollilyasthelittlegirlcameflyingintotheroomwithhercapallononeside，thelidsofherbasketrattlinglikecastanetsandlookinglikeaverycrazylittlecook。

“Mrs。AuntJowantsthesethings，andImusthavethemrightaway，“

saidDaisy，importantly。

’Let’ssee，honey；here’stwopoundsofsteak，potatoes，squash，apples，bread，andbutter。Themeatain’tcomeyet；whenitdoesI’llsenditup。

Theotherthingsareallhandy。“

ThenAsiapackedonepotato，oneapple，abitofsquash，alittlepatofbutter，andaroll，intothebasket，tellingSallytobeonthewatchforthebutcher’sboy，becausehesometimesplayedtricks。

“Whoishe？“andDaisyhopeditwouldbeDemi。

“You’llsee，“wasallAsiawouldsay；andSallywentoffingreatspirits，singingaversefromdearMaryHowitt’ssweetstoryinrhyme：“AwaywentlittleMabel，Withthewheatencakesofine，Thenew-madepotofbutter，Andthelittleflaskofwine。““Puteverythingbuttheappleintothestore-closetforthepresent，“saidMrs。Jo，whenthecookgothome。

Therewasacupboardunderthemiddleshelf，andonopeningthedoorfreshdelightsappeared。Onehalfwasevidentlythecellar，forwood，coal，andkindlingswerepiledthere。Theotherhalfwasfulloflittlejars，boxes，andallsortsofdrollcontrivancesforholdingsmallquantitiesofflour，meal，sugar，salt，andotherhouseholdstores。Apotofjamwasthere，alittletinboxofgingerbread，acolognebottlefullofcurrantwine，andatinycanisteroftea。Butthecrowningcharmwastwodoll’spansofnewmilk，withcreamactuallyrisingonit，andaweeskimmerallreadytoskimitwith。Daisyclaspedherhandsatthisdeliciousspectacle，andwantedtoskimitimmediately。ButAuntJosaid：

“Notyet；youwillwantthecreamtoeatonyourapplepieatdinner，andmustnotdisturbittillthen。“

“AmIgoingtohavepie？“criedDaisy，hardlybelievingthatsuchblisscouldbeinstoreforher。

“Yes；ifyourovendoeswellwewillhavetwopies，­；oneappleandonestrawberry，“saidMrs。Jo，whowasnearlyasmuchinterestedinthenewplayasDaisyherself。

“Oh，whatnext？“askedSally，allimpatiencetobegin。

“Shutthelowerdraughtofthestove，sothattheovenmayheat。Thenwashyourhandsandgetouttheflour，sugar，salt，butter，andcinnamon。

Seeifthepie-boardisclean，andpareyourapplereadytoputin。“

Daisygotthingstogetherwithaslittlenoiseandspillingascouldbeexpected，fromsoyoungacook。

“Ireallydon’tknowhowtomeasureforsuchtinypies；Imustguessatit，andifthesedon’tsucceed，wemusttryagain，“saidMrs。Jo，lookingratherperplexed，andverymuchamusedwiththesmallconcernbeforeher。

“Takethatlittlepanfullofflour，putinapinchofsalt，andthenrubinasmuchbutteraswillgoonthatplate。Alwaysremembertoputyourdrythingstogetherfirst，andthenthewet。Itmixesbetterso。“

“Iknowhow；IsawAsiadoit。Don’tIbutterthepieplatestoo？Shedid，thefirstthing，“saidDaisy，whiskingtheflouraboutatagreatrate。

“Quiteright!Idobelieveyouhaveagiftforcooking，youtaketoitsocleverly，“saidAuntJo，approvingly。“Nowadashofcoldwater，justenoughtowetit；thenscattersomeflourontheboard，workinalittle，androllthepasteout；yes，that’stheway。Nowputdabsofbutteralloverit，androllitoutagain。Wewon’thaveourpastryveryrich，orthedollswillgetdyspeptic。“

Daisylaughedattheidea，andscatteredthedabswithaliberalhand。

Thensherolledandrolledwithherdelightfullittlepin，andhavinggotherpastereadyproceededtocovertheplateswithit。Nexttheapplewasslicedin，sugarandcinnamonlavishlysprinkledoverit，andthenthetopcrustputonwithbreathlesscare。

“Ialwayswantedtocutthemround，andAsianeverwouldletme。Howniceitistodoitallmyowntydontyself!“saidDaisy，asthelittleknifewentclippingroundthedoll’splatepoisedonherhand。

Allcooks，eventhebest，meetwithmishapssometimes，andSally’sfirstoneoccurredthen，fortheknifewentsofastthattheplateslipped，turnedasomersaultintheair，andlandedthedearlittlepieupsidedownonthefloor。Sallyscreamed，Mrs。Jolaughed，Teddyscrambledtogetit，andforamomentconfusionreignedinthenewkitchen。

“Itdidn’tspillorbreak，becauseIpinchedtheedgestogethersohard；

itisn’thurtabit，soI’llprickholesinit，andthenitwillbeready，“

saidSally，pickingupthecapsizedtreasureandputtingitintoshapewithachild-likedisregardofthedustithadgatheredinitsfall。

“Mynewcookhasagoodtemper，Isee，andthatissuchacomfort，“

saidMrs。Jo。“Nowopenthejarofstrawberryjam，filltheuncoveredpie，andputsomestripsofpasteoverthetopasAsiadoes。“

“I’llmakeaDinthemiddle，andhavezigzagsallround，thatwillbesointerestingwhenIcometoeatit，“saidSally，loadingthepiewithquirlsandflourishesthatwouldhavedrivenarealpastrycookwild。“NowIputthemin!“sheexclaimed；whenthelastgrimyknobhadbeencarefullyplantedintheredfieldofjam，andwithanairoftriumphsheshutthemintothelittleoven。

“Clearupyourthings；agoodcookneverletsherutensilscollect。

Thenpareyoursquashandpotatoes。“

“Thereisonlyonepotato，“giggledSally。

“Cutitinfourpieces，soitwillgointothelittlekettle，andputthebitsintocoldwatertillitistimetocookthem。“

“DoIsoakthesquashtoo？“

“No，indeed!Justpareitandcutitup，andputinintothesteameroverthepot。Itisdrierso，thoughittakeslongertocook。“

HereascratchingatthedoorcausedSallytorunandopenit，whenKitappearedwithacoveredbasketinhismouth。

“Here’sthebutcherboy!“criedDaisy，muchtickledattheidea，assherelievedhimofhisload，whereathelickedhislipsandbegantobeg，evidentlythinkingthatitwashisowndinner，forheoftencarriedittohismasterinthatway。Beingundeceived，hedepartedingreatwrathandbarkedallthewaydownstairs，toeasehiswoundedfeelings。

Inthebasketweretwobitsofsteak(doll’spounds)，abakedpear，asmallcake，andpaperwiththemonwhichAsiahadscrawled，“ForMissy’slunch，ifhercookin’don’tturnoutwell。“

“Idon’twantanyofheroldpearsandthings；mycookingwillturnoutwell，andI’llhaveasplendiddinner；seeifIdon’t!“criedDaisy，indignantly。

“Wemaylikethemifcompanyshouldcome。Itisalwayswelltohavesomethinginthestoreroom，“saidAuntJo，whohadbeentaughtthisvaluablefactbyaseriesofdomesticpanics。

“Meishundry，“announcedTeddy，whobegantothinkwhatwithsomuchcookinggoingonitwasabouttimeforsomebodytoeatsomething。Hismothergavehimherworkbaskettorummage，hopingtokeephimquiettilldinnerwasready，andreturnedtoherhousekeeping。

“Putonyourvegetables，setthetable，andthenhavesomecoalskindlingreadyforthesteak。“

Whatathingitwastoseethepotatoesbobbingaboutinthelittlepot；topeepatthesquashgettingsoftsofastinthetinysteamer；towhiskopentheovendooreveryfiveminutestoseehowthepiesgoton，andatlastwhenthecoalswereredandglowing，toputtworealsteaksonafinger-longgridironandproudlyturnthemwithafork。Thepotatoesweredonefirst，andnowonder，fortheyhadboiledfranticallyallthewhile。Thewerepoundedupwithalittlepestle，hadmuchbutterandnosaltputin(cookforgotitintheexcitementofthemoment)，thenitwasmadeintoamoundinagayreddish，smoothedoverwithaknifedippedinmilk，andputintheoventobrown。

SoabsorbedintheselastperformanceshadSallybeen，thatsheforgotherpastrytillsheopenedthedoortoputinthepotato，thenawailarose，foralas!alas!thelittlepieswereburntblack!

“Oh，mypies!Mydarlingpies!Theyareallspoilt!“criedpoorSally，wringingherdirtylittlehandsasshesurveyedtheruinofherwork。Thetartwasespeciallypathetic，forthequirlsandzigzagsstuckupinalldirectionsfromtheblackenedjelly，likethewallsandchimneyofahouseafterafire。

“Dear，dear，Iforgottoremindyoutotakethemout；it’sjustmyluck，“

saidAuntJo，remorsefully。“Don’tcry，darling，itwasmyfault；we’lltryagainafterdinner，“sheadded，asagreatteardroppedfromSally’seyesandsizzledonthehotruinsofthetart。

Morewouldhavefollowed，ifthesteakhadnotblazedupjustthen，andsooccupiedtheattentionofcook，thatshequicklyforgotthelostpastry。

“Putthemeat-dishandyourownplatesdowntowarm，whileyoumashthesquashwithbutter，salt，andalittlepepperonthetop，“saidMrs。

Jo，devoutlyhopingthatthedinnerwouldmeetwithnofurtherdisasters。

The“cunningpepper-pot“soothedSally’sfeelings，andshedisheduphersquashinfinestyle。Thedinnerwassafelyputuponthetable；thesixdollswereseatedthreeonaside；Teddytookthebottom，andSallythetop。Whenallweresettled，itwasamostimposingspectacle，foronedollwasinfullballcostume，anotherinhernight-gown；Jerry，theworstedboy，worehisredwintersuit，whileAnnabella，thenoselessdarling，wasairilyattiredinnothingbutherownkidskin。Teddy，asfatherofthefamily，behavedwithgreatpropriety，forhesmilinglydevouredeverythingofferedhim，anddidnotfindasinglefault。Daisybeameduponhercompanyliketheweary，warm，buthospitablehostesssooftentobeseenatlargertablesthanthis，anddidthehonorswithanairofinnocentsatisfaction，whichwedonotoftenseeelsewhere。

Thesteakwassotoughthatthelittlecarving-knifewouldnotcutit；