er, breathless from her hurried
trip.

"No!"

"It can't be!"

"We didn't stop a minute!"

"But we shouldn't have commenced! All we have to do is to let it alone
until it thickens!"

"My poor broken arm feels worse than ever," grumbled Hermione.

"'Love's labors lost,'" said Ivy, and Vera declared that she had
suspected they were overdoing it!

"The third time's the charm," cried Laura, breaking hopefully into the
chorus of lamentations, "Let's get to work!"

When the mixture was returned to the fire she took Alene by the
shoulder and placed her on a chair with her back to the stove, "for
fear her reproachful glances set the pan a-tremble and that obstinate
sugar be glad of the chance to escape taffying!"

Whereupon Ivy, with a parting grimace toward the range, gravely moved
her chair around and the others followed her example, until all had
turned their backs upon the offending pan.

After a while Ivy craned her neck stealthily. She saw the mixture
bubbling. She gave a scream.

"It's stirring of its own accord! Girls, girls, stop it, stop it!"'

"I'm not surprised," Hermione remarked. "The poor thing no doubt feels
very much 'stirred up.'"

"Yes, it's fairly boiling over with rage," said Alene. Then, forgetful
of the prophesied consequences, she flew to test it.

They crowded around her as she poured a spoonful of the sweet into a
glass of water, Then followed a hilarious cheer--

"Joy, joy, our task is done!
The sugar's thickened!
Taffy's won!"

CHAPTER XII

A STRING OF FISH

"Let me alone and I'll die myself," cried Alene who, after a vigorous
rocking in the big swing, was coming to a leisurely stop which Kizzie's
appearance threatened. The latter, seeing that her good intentions
were not necessary, stood inactive until the swinging died away.

"Kizzie's mad and I am glad," sang Alene, noticing a cloud on the
girl's usually good-natured countenance. "What's the matter?"

"Oh, the fish wagon didn't come and Mrs. Major says Mr. Fred can't do
without his fish. I have to go round to the big gate to watch for one
of the boys to come along from the river, and I had just finished my
work in a hurry, so's to have an hour at the sewing machine, to finish
my waist."

"If that's all, I can watch for the boys and buy the fish, so just give
me the basket, Kizzie darlin'!"

The girl's face brightened.

"If you would--if you're sure you ain't puttin' yourself out!"

"Why, it wi