There was apple sauce in one, salad in another, mashed potatoes that had become quite cold in another, and a boat of gravy which had also become quite cold.

“But we don’t mind,” cried Mollie joyfully, as she took the gravy-boat in one hand, the dish of potatoes in the other, and ran with them over to a great stove in one corner of the room.  “We need only some matches to have this blazing hot in a minute.  No, not that way, Grace,” as the latter tried to help by lighting the burner.  “This isn’t a gas stove, you know; it’s an oil stove and you had better look out or you will blow us all up.

It is small wonder if Betty was so dazzled by this joyful scene that she could neither move nor speak for the space of two seconds or so.  Then, recovering her powers of locomotion, she went over to the table and picked up a note that, in their excitement, the girls had overlooked.

“See what this says,” she called to them, and they looked at her rather impatiently.  Just at that moment the only thing they cared to consider was food—­ and more food—­ and then some more!

But as Betty read they became more interested, and even stopped long enough to hear her through.  It was a brief note.  This is what it said.

“My dear young ladies: 

“I am a neighbor of Mr. Prendergast,” (this was the dressed-up name of Mollie’s Uncle John) “and he axed me to get your dinner ready fer you.  I tried to keep it hot but you wus so long comin’ I had to go home to get dinner fer my old man.  Hope things is all right.

“LizzieDavis.”

“So she is the one who has done all this,” said Betty, looking around at the good things with dancing eyes.  “I bet she is nice and plump and has rosy cheeks.”

“Lizzie Davis?  Lizzie Davis?” repeated Mollie, bringing the steaming gravy back and plumping the dish triumphantly down on the table.  “Rather a funny name for a fairy godmother, but she sure does know how to cook.  Don’t forget the potatoes, Grace.  Come on, girls—­ let’s sit down.”

So down the girls sat and acted like ravenous pigs—­ or so Grace described their conduct afterward, Mrs. Irving set to work carving the delicious pork, but they could not wait for her.

They seized slices of bread, spread apple sauce and butter on them, and ate like what they were, four famished girls and one equally famished chaperon who had been out in the open all day and had had nothing to eat since morning.

It was some time before they showed any considerable signs of slowing up.  Then Grace put down her fork, leaned back lazily, and called for dessert.  The latter was a huge cherry pie, and before the girls were through with it there was not enough left to color a robin’s egg.

After the pangs of hunger had been satisfied they found to their great surprise that they were dead tired and sleepy.

“We will get the dishes out of the way and then Mollie can show us where we sleep,” said Betty.  “Oh, girls, did you ever in your life taste such a dinner?”