“I think it wants another five minutes,” said Ribby.  “Just a shade longer; I will pour out the tea, while we wait.  Do you take sugar, my dear Duchess?”

“Oh yes, please! my dear Ribby; and may I have a lump upon my nose?”

“With pleasure, my dear Duchess; how beautifully you beg!  Oh, how sweetly pretty!”

[Illustration]

Duchess sat up with the sugar on her nose and sniffed—­

“How good that pie smells!  I do love veal and ham—­I mean to say mouse and bacon—­”

[Illustration]

She dropped the sugar in confusion, and had to go hunting under the tea-table, so did not see which oven Ribby opened in order to get out the pie.

Ribby set the pie upon the table; there was a very savoury smell.

Duchess came out from under the table-cloth munching sugar, and sat up on a chair.

“I will first cut the pie for you; I am going to have muffin and marmalade,” said Ribby.

“Do you really prefer muffin?  Mind the patty-pan!”

[Illustration]

“I beg your pardon?” said Ribby.

“May I pass you the marmalade?” said Duchess hurriedly.

The pie proved extremely toothsome, and the muffins light and hot.  They disappeared rapidly, especially the pie!

“I think”—­(thought the Duchess to herself)—­“I think it would be wiser if I helped myself to pie; though Ribby did not seem to notice anything when she was cutting it.  What very small fine pieces it has cooked into!  I did not remember that I had minced it up so fine; I suppose this is a quicker oven than my own.”

[Illustration]

“How fast Duchess is eating!” thought Ribby to herself, as she buttered her fifth muffin.

[Illustration]

The pie-dish was emptying rapidly!  Duchess had had four helps already, and was fumbling with the spoon.  “A little more bacon, my dear Duchess?” said Ribby.

“Thank you, my dear Ribby; I was only feeling for the patty-pan.”

[Illustration:  WHERE IS THE PATTY-PAN?]

“The patty-pan? my dear Duchess?”

“The patty-pan that held up the pie-crust,” said Duchess, blushing under her black coat.

“Oh, I didn’t put one in, my dear Duchess,” said Ribby; “I don’t think that it is necessary in pies made of mouse.”

Duchess fumbled with the spoon—­“I can’t find it!” she said anxiously.

“There isn’t a patty-pan,” said Ribby, looking perplexed.

“Yes, indeed, my dear Ribby; where can it have gone to?” said Duchess.

[Illustration]

“There most certainly is not one, my dear Duchess.  I disapprove of tin articles in puddings and pies.  It is most undesirable—­(especially when people swallow in lumps!)” she added in a lower voice.

Duchess looked very much alarmed, and continued to scoop the inside of the pie-dish.

“My Great-aunt Squintina (grandmother of Cousin Tabitha Twitchit)—­died of a thimble in a Christmas plum-pudding. I never put any article of metal in my puddings or pies.”