and carry them to the sideboard and leave them there and then take
the next two, and so on; never pile your plates. Then pass the bacon
around, going to the left, as with the fruit, and then the potato and
muffins. Bring the cups on the tray, as your mother fills them, and set
them down carefully at each person's right; do not offer a cup to any
one, because coffee is so easily spilled in taking it off and on a tray
and handing it about.

"Few people would ever have fruit, cereal, hot things, and then cakes,
too; but some day you may have fruit, bacon or meat, and then cakes, so
you had better learn how to manage with them. Just have ready small,
hot plates, and bring one at a time and exchange it with the meat plate
as you did before; you must put on two forks instead of one at the left
of each plate when you lay the table, if you are to have a second hot
course.

"You do not take off the crumbs at breakfast because it is such an
informal meal, but you must watch and see if any tumbler needs
refilling, or if anybody needs a second butter ball, and supply it
without being asked. The meat platter, the dish of potatoes, and the
muffins or toast should also be offered twice to every one. Your mother,
however, will ask if any one wants a second cup of coffee, and then you
bring her the cup, and after she has rinsed it out by pouring in hot
water from her little pitcher, she will fill it and you can carry it
back and set it down again. Now that is all, I think, and you can wash
your hands and take off your gingham apron and ask Bridget if you may
call down the family; that is, if you may say to your mother, very
quietly and politely, 'Breakfast is served!'" Margaret laughed, and
smoothed down her nice crisp white apron proudly as she left the room.

LUNCHEON

Laying the luncheon-table proved to be exactly like laying the
breakfast-table, and, as her aunt said, if they were laying a
supper-table that would have also been done in the same way; so really
all Margaret had to learn was how to lay two tables, one for breakfast,
luncheon or supper, and one for dinner.

However, her aunt thought they would use doilies instead of the
lunch-cloth for a change, so Margaret would not think her lesson did not
amount to much, and she got these out at lunch time and put one down for
each person with its square of felt underneath it. In the middle she put
a large doily which matched the others, and added one or two smaller
ones, one