ust then.

"She's gone," cried Mary Jane, "and a cook lady's come to visit you."
And she skipped out from the dining-room to show him her cap.

"Well, I like circuses," said Grandfather solemnly, "but I must say
that right at this minute I'd rather had a cook lady than a dozen
circuses--so there! Who's getting dinner?" he added as he saw
Grandmother working away at her jam.

"Mary Jane is," answered Grandmother "and I expected to be through by
now to broil the steak--she's everything else ready. But," she added
worriedly, "I simply can't stop for ten minutes and I know her potatoes
are about done!"

"Is there another handkerchief around here somewhere?" asked
Grandfather suddenly.

"In your drawer there's lots," said Mary Jane, but for the life of her
she couldn't see what Grandfather meant.

"You get it," he said, and she dashed upstairs on the errand.

"There now," said Grandfather after she handed it to him, "how's that?"
Mary Jane laughed and laughed at the funny sight. He had twisted the
handkerchief around his head dusting cap style and was bowing to her in
a grand fashion. "I guess I can cook too!" he declared, "bring on the
steak!"

Mary Jane got the steak out of the ice box and helped him salt and
pepper it; then, while he broiled it--yes, he did know how, Mary Jane
had thought he was only fooling--she took up the potatoes and apples
and got the pitcher of water.

"I tell you what," said Grandfather proudly as they sat down to dinner
a minute later, "it's all very well to be a circus lady but personally,
I prefer a good cook, Mary Jane, and if you keep on as you've begun,
you'll be a good one!"

"I'm going to keep on," said Mary Jane, proudly, "'cause it's more fun
than playing."

"Good for you," said Grandfather, "and by the way, Mother, have you
told her where she's going to-night?"

"Not a word," said Grandmother, smiling.

"Goody!" cried Mary Jane, clapping her hands happily, "it's a surprise."

"Yes, it is," laughed Grandmother, "you never did it before that's
certain. But you have to finish your dinner and then take a good
nap--a really for sure enough nap, before you know a single thing about
it so it's no use to ask questions. I'll tell you this much though,"
she added as she saw Mary Jane look a bit disappointed, "you'll wear
your best dress and your biggest hair ribbon."

Now what in the world was coming? Mary Jane couldn't think and she
went to her nap wondering and wonderi