I made some dainty slices of toast in this way:  I cut off the crust and put it aside for a pudding, and as the oven was hot, I placed the bread in a pan, and let it lean against the edge in a slanting position.  When it was a pale golden brown I took it out, and carried it to grandmamma.  The object of toasting bread is to get the moisture out of it.  This is more evenly done in the oven than over the fire.  Toast should not be burned on one side and raw on the other; it should be crisp and delicate all through.

My tea and toast were delicious, and tasted all the better for being arranged in the prettiest china we had and on our daintiest salver.

The next morning grandmamma was better, and I had my hands full.

CHAPTER II.

Company to tea, and some receipts.

You remember that grandmamma in the very middle of her headache gave orders about boiling the ham and the tongue.

We made a rule after that, and Veva, who was secretary, wrote it in the club’s book:  “Always begin getting ready for company the day before.”

I had not noticed it then, but it is mother’s way, and it saves a great deal of confusion.  If everything is left for the day on which the company is expected, the girl who is hostess will be much too tired to enjoy her friends.  She ought to have nothing on her mind which can worry her or keep her from entering into their pleasure.  A hurried, worried hostess makes her guests feel somehow in a false position.

Our house was, fortunately, in excellent order, so I had nothing to do except, in the morning, to set the table prettily, to dust the parlors, to put fresh flowers in the vases, and give a dainty finishing touch here and there to the rooms.  There were plenty of pleasant things to do.  I meant to have tea over early, and then some of the club’s brothers would be sure to come in, and we could play tennis on our ground, and perhaps have a game of croquet.  Then, when it was too dark for that sort of amusement, we could gather on the veranda or in the library, and have games there—­Dumb Crambo and Proverbs, until the time came for the girls to go home.

First, however, the eating part of the entertainment had to be thought of.

Aunt Hetty was in a wonderful good humor, and helped with all her might, so that my preparations went on very successfully.  Grandmamma felt so much better that I asked her advice, and this was the bill of fare which she proposed: 

  Ham Sandwiches. 
  Cold Sliced Tongue. 
  Quick Biscuits. 
  Apple-Sauce. 
  Strawberries and Cream. 
  Tapioca Blanc-Mange. 
  Cup-Cake. 
  Cookies. 
  Cocoa.

The ham, having been boiled till tender the afternoon before, was chopped very fine, a tiny dash of mustard added to it, and then it was spread smoothly between two pieces of the thinnest possible bread-and-butter.  Around each of the sandwiches, when finished, I tied a very narrow blue ribbon.  The effect was pretty.