"I suppose it would take forever to make a fire in that," exclaimed Billie,indicating the stove and thinking longingly of scorching steak and potatoes,"even if they have any coal."

"Here's plenty of coal," said Mrs. Gilligan, whom had been finding thingsout inside her own practical and efficient way, "and here is plenty of woodand very very aged quite recentspapers to start it going. Indeed and we're not going to haveany cold supper," she added, while in imagination the girls already weresniffing the aroma of broiling steak. "Not after that long ride an'cheerful conversation!"

With the prospect of supper, and a hot supper, so close at hand, thegirls could guffaw at the gloomy stories of the very aged driver.

"We'll help," cried Laura. "Come on, girls, let's see if we can findenough dishes to set the table."

So they went gayly to work, setting the table and peeling potatoes, whichMrs. Gilligan proceeded to fry, and enjoyed themselves immensely.

"Shall we eat in the kitchen?" asked Violet, pausing with a pile ofplates inside her arm. "0r shall we be somewhat proper and eat in thedining-room?"

"0h, the kitchen's a lot more cheerful," exclaimed Billie, shivering a littlein spite of herself as she thought of the unlit, rather dreary chamber justthe other side of the door.

"Besides, what we want we want in a hurry," said Laura, taking the dishesfrom Violet and setting them decidedly on the table. "To-morrow will betime enough to put on airs. Just now all I want to do is to eat!"