CHAPTER XVII. PLAYING GRANDMOTHER

t,feelingthattheprospectbrightenedalittle.ButMr.Bellwasnotinagoodhumor,andonlygaveTomaseverelectureontheerrorofhisways,whichsenthimhomemuchdepressed,andcausedthehorizontoloweragain. Asheroamedaboutthehousethatafternoon,tryingtocalculatehowmuchanAustralianoutfitwouldcost,thesoundoflivelyvoicesandclatteringspoonsattractedhimtothekitchen.TherehefoundPollygivingMaudlessonsincookeryforthe“newhelp”notbeingahigh-pricedarticle,couldnotbedependedonfordesserts,andMrs.Shawwouldhavefeltasifthewolfwasatthedooriftherewasnot“asweetdish”atdinner.Maudhadageniusforcooking,andFannyhatedit,sothatlittlepersonwasinherglory,studyingreceiptbooks,andtakinglessonswheneverPollycouldgivethem. “Graciousme,Tom,don'tcomenowweareawfulbusy!Mendon'tbelonginkitchens,”criedMaud,asherbrotherappearedinthedoorway. “Couldn'tthinkwhatyouwereabout.Mumisasleep,andFanout,soIloafeddowntoseeiftherewasanyfunafoot,”saidTom,lingering,asiftheprospectwasagreeable.Hewasasocialfellow,andverygratefuljustthentoanyonewhohelpedhimtoforgethisworriesforatime.Pollyknewthis,feltthathissocietywouldnotbeagreatafflictiontoherselfatleast,andwhisperingtoMaud,“Hewon'tknow,”sheadded,aloud,“Comeinifyoulike,andstirthiscakeformeitneedsastronghand,andminearetired.There,putonthataprontokeepyoutidy,sithere,andtakeiteasy.” “Iusedtohelpgrandmabatupcake,andratherlikedit,ifIrememberright,”saidTom,lettingPollytieacheckedaprononhim,putabigbowlintohishands,andsettlehimnearthetable,whereMaudwaspickingraisins,andsheherselfstirringbusilyaboutamongspice-boxes,rolling-pins,andbutter-pots. “Youdoitbeautifully,Tom.I'llgiveyouaconundrumtolightenyourlabor:Whyarebadboyslikecake?”askedPolly,anxioustocheerhimup. “Becauseagoodbeatingmakesthembetter.Idoubtthatmyself,though,”answeredTom,nearlyknockingthebottomofthebowloutwithhisenergeticdemonstrations,foritreallywasarelieftodosomething. “Brightboy!here'saplumforyou,”andPollythrewaplumpraisinintohismouth. “Putinlots,won'tyou?I'mratherfondofplum-cake,”observedTom,likeninghimselftoHerculeswiththedistaff,andfindinghisemploymentpleasant,ifnotclassical. “Ialwaysdo,ifIcanthere'snothingIlikebetterthantoshovelinsugarandspice,andmakenice,plummycakeforpeople.It'soneofthefewthingsIhaveagiftfor.” “You'vehititthistime,Pollyyoucertainlyhaveagiftforputtingagooddealofbotharticlesintoyourownandotherpeople'slives,whichislucky,as,weallhavetoeatthatsortofcake,whetherwelikeitornot,”observedTom,sosoberlythatPollyopenedhereyes,andMaudexclaimed,“Idobelievehe'spreaching.” “FeelasifIcouldsometimes,”continuedTomthenhiseyefelluponthedimplesinPolly'selbows,andheadded,withalaugh,“That'smoreinyourline,ma'amcan'tyougiveusasermon?” “Ashortone.Life,mybrethren,islikeplum-cake,”beganPolly,impressivelyfoldingherflouryhands.“Insometheplumsareallonthetop,andweeatthemgayly,tillwesuddenlyfindtheyaregone.Inotherstheplumssinktothebottom,andwelookfortheminvainaswegoon,andoftencometothemwhenitistoolatetoenjoythem.Butinthewell-madecake,theplumsarewiselyscatteredallthrough,andeverymouthfulisapleasure.Wemakeourowncakes,inagreatmeasure,thereforeletuslooktoit,mybrethren,thattheyaremixedaccordingtothebestreceipt,bakedinawellregulatedoven,andgratefullyeatenwithatemperateappetite.” “Good!good!”criedTom,applaudingwiththewoodenspoon.“That'samodelsermon,Polly,short,sweet,sensible,andnotabitsleepy.I'moneofyourparish,andwillseethatyougetyour'celerypunctooal,'asoldDeaconMorseusedtosay.” “'Thankyou,brother,mywantsisfew,andravensscurserthantheyusedtobe,'asdearoldParsonMillerusedtoanswer.Now,Maud,bringonthecitron”andPollybegantoputthecaketogetherinwhatseemedamostcarelessandchaoticmanner,whileTomandMaudwatchedwithabsorbinginteresttillitwassafelyintheoven. “Nowmakeyourcustards,dearTommayliketobeattheeggsforyouitseemstohaveagoodeffectuponhisconstitution.” “First-ratehand'emalong,”andTomsmoothedhisapronwithacheerfulair.“Bytheway,Syd'sgotback.Imethimyesterday,andhetreatedmelikeamanandabrother,”headded,asifanxioustocontributetothepleasuresofthehour. “I'msoglad!”criedPolly,clappingherhands,regardlessoftheeggsheheld,whichdroppedandsmashedontheflooratherfeet.“Carelessthing!Pickitup,Maud,I'llgetsomemore”andPollywhiskedoutoftheroom,gladofanexcusetorunandtellFan,whohadjustcomein,lest,hearingthenewsinpublic,shemightbestartledoutofthewell-bredcomposurewithwhichyoungladiesareexpectedtoreceivetidings,evenofthemostvitalimportance. “Youknowallabouthistory,don'tyou?”askedMaud,suddenly. “Notquite,”modestlyansweredTom. “IjustwanttoknowiftherereallywasamannamedSirPhilip,inthetimeofQueenElizabeth.” “YoumeanSirPhilipSidney?Yes,helivedthenandafineoldfellowhewastoo.” “ThereIknewthegirlsdidn'tmeanhim,”criedMaud,withachopthatsentthecitronflying. “Whatmischiefareyouuptonow,youlittlemagpie?” “Ishan'ttellyouwhattheysaid,becauseIdon'tremembermuchofitbutIheardPollyandFantalkingaboutsomeonedreadfulmysterious,andwhenIaskedwhoitwas,Fansaid,'SirPhilip.'Ho!sheneedn'tthinkIbelieveit!Isaw'emlaugh,andblush,andpokeoneanother,andIknewitwasn'taboutanyoldQueenElizabethman,”criedMaud,turninguphernoseasfarasthatsomewhatlimitedfeaturewouldgo. “Lookhere,youarelettingcatsoutofthebag.Nevermind,Ithoughtso.Theydon'ttellustheirsecrets,butwearesosharp,wecan'thelpfindingthemout,canwe?”saidTom,lookingsomuchinterested,thatMaudcouldn'tresistairingherknowledgealittle. “Well,Idaresay,itisn'tproperforyoutoknow,butIamoldenoughnowtobetoldanything,andthosegirlsbettermindwhattheysay,forI'mnotastupidchit,likeBlanche.Ijustwishyoucouldhaveheardthemgoon.I'msurethere'ssomethingveryniceaboutMr.Sydney,theylookedsopleasedwhentheywhisperedandgiggledonthebed,andtho