Ninth Day
"Dear me!" said Mrs. Vernon, in a despairing tone, as she saw from her bedroom window a carriage drive up to the door; "there's Mrs. Harvey and her two daughters come in from the country to lunch, and there is not a thing in the house! I told Rhoda she might spend the day out, and we are to have a six o'clock dinner; and as Mr. Vernon wasn't to come to lunch, I thought we would just have a cup of tea and some bread and butter and preserves for lunch. What shall I do? They'll be hungry after their journey." "Just leave it to me," said Mrs. King, whom she addressed. "Lend me the girls to help cook, and let Mary set the table, and you shall have lunch in half an hour." "I know you can do wonders, Jane, but I don't believe you can get up anything with what you'll find in this house!" said Mrs. Vernon.