row
morning I shall go to Mrs. Saunders and offer to furnish all the good
things for Helen's birthday party, and then I'll ask Mrs. Reeves and
Mrs. Porter if I may make their bread for them. That will do for a
beginning, I like cooking, you know, and I believe that in time I can
work up a good business."

"It seems to be a good idea," said Mrs. Mitchell thoughtfully, "and I
am willing that you should try. But have you thought it all out
carefully? There will be many difficulties."

"I know. I don't expect smooth sailing right along, and perhaps I'll
fail altogether; but somehow I don't believe I will."

"A great many of your old friends will think--"

"Oh, yes; I know _that_ too, but I am not going to mind it, Mother. I
don't think there is any disgrace in working for my living. I'm going
to do my best and not care what people say."

Early next morning Lilian started out. She had carefully thought over
the details of her small venture, considered ways and means, and
decided on the most advisable course. She would not attempt too much,
and she felt sure of success.

To secure competent servants was one of the problems of Willington
people. At Drayton, a large neighbouring town, were several factories,
and into these all the working girls from Willington had crowded,
leaving very few who were willing to go out to service. Many of those
who did were poor cooks, and Lilian shrewdly suspected that many a
harassed housekeeper in the village would be glad to avail herself of
the new enterprise.

Lilian was, as she had said of herself, "a born cook." This was her
capital, and she meant to make the most of it. Mrs. Saunders listened
to her businesslike details with surprise and delight.

"It is the very thing," she said. "Helen is so eager for that party,
but I could not undertake it myself. Her birthday is Friday. Can you
have everything ready by then?"

"Yes, I think so," said Lilian briskly, producing her notebook.
"Please give me the list of what you want and I will do my best."

From Mrs. Saunders she went to Mrs. Reeves and found a customer as
soon as she had told the reason of her call. "I'll furnish all the
bread and rolls you need," she said, "and they will be good, too. Now,
about your jelly. I can make good jelly, and I'll be very glad to make
yours."

When she left, Lilian had an order for two dozen glasses of apple
jelly, as well as a standing one for bread and rolls. Mrs. Porter was
next visited and