Grace Brooks Hill The Corner House Girls on a Houseboat / How they sailed away, what happened on the voyage, and what was discovered
CHAPTER I WHATS THAT?
Dat suah smells mighty good mighty good! murmured the old darkey to himself, as he straightened up by the process of putting one hand to the small of his back and pressing there, as though a spring needed adjusting. Dat suah smells mighty good! Mrs. Mac mus suah be out-doin of hersef dish yeah mawnin!
He turned his wrinkled face toward the Corner House, again sniffing deeply.
A pleased and satisfied look came over his countenance as the cooking odors emanating from the kitchen became more pronounced.
Deys suah to be some left dey suah is, cause hits Miss Ruths party, an shes always genrus wif de eatins. She suah is. Deys suah to be some left.
He removed his hand from the small of his back, thereby allowing himself to fall forward again in the proper position for picking up papers, and went on with his work.
Inside the kitchen, where the odors were even more pronounced, as one might naturally expect to find them, two girls and a pleasant-faced woman were busy; though not more so than a fresh-appearing Finnish maid, who hummed an air full of minor strains as she opened the oven door now and then, thereby letting out more odors which were piled upon, mingled with, and otherwise added to those already bringing such a delicious sensation to Uncle Rufus.
Arent you planning too much, Ruth? asked her sister Agnes, as the girl addressed carefully placed a wondrously white napkin over a plate of freshly baked macaroons. I mean the girls will never eat all this, and she waved her hand to include a side table on which were many more plates, some empty, awaiting their burden from the oven, while others were covered with white linen like some mysterious receptacles under a stage magicians serviette.
Oh, dont worry about that! laughed Ruth. My only worry is that I shall not have enough.
Well, for the lands sake! how many do you expect? demanded Agnes Kenway.
Six. But there will be you and me and
Then Mr. Howbridge is coming! cried Agnes, as if there had been some question about it, though this was the first time his name had been mentioned that morning.
He may come, answered Ruth quietly.
He may ! Oh my stars! As if you didnt know he was coming! retorted Agnes. Is it in er his official capacity?
I asked Mr. Howbridge to come to advise us about forming the society, Ruth said. I thought it best to start right. If we are going to be of any use as a Civic Betterment Club in Milton we must be on a firm foundation, and
Hear! Hear! interrupted Agnes, banging on the table with an agate mixing spoon, and thereby bringing from a deep pantry the form and face of Mrs. MacCall, the sturdy Scotch housekeeper.
Please dont do that! begged Ruth.
Hoots! Whuts meanin wi the rattlin an thumpin? demanded Mrs. MacCall.
Oh, some nonsense of Agnes, answered Ruth. I was just telling her that I had asked the girls to luncheon, to talk over the new Civic Betterment Club, and that Mr. Howbridge is coming to advise us how to get a charter, or incorporate, or whatever is proper and
I was only applauding after the fashion in the English Parliament, interrupted Agnes. They always say Hear! Hear! away down in their throats.
Well, they dont bang on tables with granite spoons, retorted Ruth, as she handed a pie to Linda, the humming Finnish maid, who popped it into the oven, quickly shutting the door, to allow none of the heat to escape.
Hoot! I would not put it past em, I would not! murmured Mrs. MacCall. What those English law makers do I wouldna put it past them! and, shaking her head, she retired into the deep pantry again.
Well, youre going to have enough of sweets, I should say; observed Agnes, even as fond as Mr. Howbridge is of them. For the lands sake, arent you going to stop? she demanded, as Ruth poured into a dish the cake batter she had begun to stir as soon as the pie was completed.
This is the last. You dont need to stay and help me any longer if you
dont want to, dear. Run out and play, urged Ruth sweetly.
Run out and play! As if I were Dot or Tess! I like that! Why, I was thinking of asking you to let me join the society!
Oh, of course you may, Agnes! I didnt think youd care for it. Why, certainly you may join! We want to get as many into it as we can. Do come to the meeting this afternoon. Mr. Howbridge is going to explain everything, and I thought we might as well make it a little social affair. It was very good of you to help me with the baking.
Oh, I like that. And I believe I will come to the meeting. Now shall we clean up?
I do him, interposed Linda. I wash him all up, and a sweep of her muscular arm indicated the pots, pans, dishes and all the odds and ends left from the rather wholesale baking.
Oh, I shall be so glad if you will! exclaimed Ruth. I want to go over the parlor and library again. And I wonder what has become of Dot and Tess. I asked them to get me some wild flowers, but they have been gone over an hour and