"OH, my!" sighed Mary Frances, gazing at the great pile of dirty dishes on the kitchen table, where she had carried them after the company had gone. "Oh, my, cooking is fun--but washing dishes is another thing. I'm 'most tired enough to drop,--and there must be a hundred dishes to do!

I'm glad Tea Kettle is full of hot water."

"Bubble! Bubble! Piff! Piff!" puffed Tea Kettle, mys-ter-i-ous-ly smiling as though he knew something was about to happen.

Mary Frances couldn't see anything very pleasing with so much of a task before her.

She put the large dish pan on the table and poured in the water, whirling the soap around in it several times to make it a little sudsy.

Then she sat down to rest.

"Really, I didn't know I was so tired," she thought; "maybe my age is telling on me the way Aunt Maria says!"

[Ill.u.s.tration: "Bubble! Bubble! Piff! Piff!"]

Her weary little head began to nod, and she was soon fast asleep. She hadn't been asleep long before she was aroused by a great racket.

"Click, clack! Click-ety-clack! Splash!"

"Come," she said to herself, rather sharply, "I do believe you've been asleep, Mary Frances! You'd better get to work, child."

"Click! Clack!"

Again came the sound.

With her sleepy lids half open she glanced toward the table, and such a sight she never saw! She sat up with mouth and eyes wide open, but n.o.body paid any attention to her.

There were the dishes jumping higgledy-piggledy, pell-mell into the dish pan.

First a cup, followed by a saucer, then a spoon, followed by a fork.

"Make room for me," cried Platter, diving in head first.

"Look out, or you'll chip me," cried Tea Cup, tumbling out on the other side of the pan.

"I'm next!" a big dinner plate splashed in "kerplunk."

[Ill.u.s.tration: "Click, clack! Click-ety-clack! Splash!"]

Mary Frances couldn't say a word--she was so afraid they might break their heads.

"Ouw! this is hot!" screamed Little Pitcher.

All the other Kitchen People were looking on and laughing. Aunty Rolling Pin was rocking to and fro, laughing so hard the tears were rolling down her cheeks.

When Yellow Bowl bounced into the water, "Chase yourself!" cried Soup Ladle, making hard after.

In less time than it takes to tell, the dishes were all clean, and had piled themselves up neatly on the table.

Then Mary Frances realized what had happened.

"That was a patent dish-washing," she said. "I don't want you to do that often. I was afraid my mother's china would be broken all to pieces! But I am very much obliged, this time, I'm sure."

[Ill.u.s.tration]

[Ill.u.s.tration: There were the dishes jumping higgledy-piggledy, pell-mell into the dish pan.]

CHAPTER XV

THIMBLE BISCUITS

MARY FRANCES carried all her dolls to the window seat in her room, and placed them in a row. Then she held up an envelope.

"Misses Angelina, Marie, Cosette, Lady Gay, Peg, Master Alfonso, why, listen! Here's a letter come for you. What can it be? Pay very strict 'tention while I read it. If you'd gone to school every day I've been so busy, perhaps you could read it yourselves; but, of course, when my hands are so full, I can't possibly get you off, and you are so helpless. Aren't you 'shamed? I think--yes, I think you all look ashamed except Peg. If you don't look ashamed in one minute, Peg,--just one minute I'll give you,--you sha'n't hear this! There, that will do! You needn't cry, dear child! Now, I'll read."

Mary Frances cut open the envelope.

Every doll looked deeply interested except poor Peg who had fallen on her side. "Why, it's an invitation to a Dolls' Party! Listen!"

[Ill.u.s.tration: "It's an invitation to a Dolls' Party."]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Poor Peg, who had fallen on her side.]

[Ill.u.s.tration:

My dear Dollies:

May I have the pleasure of your company at a Doll's Kitchen Party this afternoon at three o'clock?

Your loving (Mistress) Mary Frances.

P.S. Anyone coming late will be fined a pink riblon. In case she has'nt a pink riblon her hair will be pulled.

M. F.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: "Of course you'll wear your dress suit."]

"Now, dears," Mary Frances smiled upon them, "no wonder you look surprised; for that's a grand invitation, all written out on real paper.

I had an awful time getting it to sound right. I'm not sure that it is just exactly correct yet. So we'll get dressed right away. Now don't all ask at once what you'll wear. Yes, Fonsey, of course you'll wear your dress suit. What of it if it isn't proper to wear it until after six o'clock? You have only your work clothes and that suit and you'll have to wear your best."

Everybody was quiet and good as gold while Mary Frances finished dressing them.

"There," she said to herself, "the last sash is tied. Goodness, I'm tired--tired-er than if I'd been cooking the whole morning! Aren't dolls stupid compared with Kitchen Folks? I do wonder what the Kitchen Folks will do. Will they talk before them?"

[Ill.u.s.tration: Looking very anxious and excited.]