“Jane,” said my husband to me one morning, as he was about leaving the house, “I believe I must invite my old friend Green to dine with me to-day.  He will leave the city to-morrow, and I may not have the pleasure of a social hour with him again for years.  Besides, I want to introduce him to you.  We were intimate as young men, and much attached to each other.  I would like you to know him.”

“Invite him, by all means,” was my reply.

“I will send home a turkey from market,” said Mr. Smith, as he stood holding on to the open door.  “Tell Kitty to cook it just right.  Mrs. Green, I am told, is a first-rate housekeeper, and I feel like showing you off to the best advantage.”

“Don’t look for too much,” I replied, smiling, “lest you be disappointed.”

Mr. Smith went away, and I walked back to the kitchen door to say a word to Kitty.  As I looked in, the sound of my feet on the floor caused her to start.  She was standing near a window, and at my appearance she hurriedly concealed something under her apron.

“Kitty,” said I, “we are to have company to dine with us to-day.  Mr. Smith will send home a turkey, which you must dress and cook in the best manner.  I will be down during the morning to make some lemon puddings.  Be sure to have a good fire in the range, and see that all the drafts are clear.”

Kitty promised that every thing should be right, and I went up stairs.  In due time the marketing came home.  About eleven o’clock I repaired to the kitchen, and, much to my surprise, found all in disorder.

“What in the world have you been doing all the morning?” said I, feeling a little fretted.

Kitty excused herself good naturedly, and commenced bustling about to put things to rights, while I got flour and other articles necessary for my purpose, and went to work at my lemon puddings, which were, in due time, ready for the oven.  Giving all necessary directions as to their baking, and charging Kitty to be sure to have every thing on the table precisely at our usual hour for dining, I went up into the nursery to look after the children, and to see about other matters requiring my attention.

Time passed on until, to my surprise, I heard the clock strike one.  I had yet to dress for dinner.

“I wonder how Kitty is coming on?” said I to myself.  “I hope she will not let the puddings get all dried up.”

But, I felt too much in a hurry to go down and satisfy myself as to the state of affairs in the kitchen; and took it for granted that all was right.

A little while afterwards, I perceived an odor as of something burning.

“What is that?” came instinctively from my lips.  “If Kitty has let the puddings burn!”