"Is that the last recipe?" asked Frying Pan.

"No," said Mary Frances. "Why, who are you?"

"I'm Frying Pan, of the great Pan family, if you please, Miss," answered he.

"Well! Well! Good friend," smiled Mary Frances, looking at her book, "your turn has come!"

[Ill.u.s.tration: Smiled happily]

NO. 40.--PAN-BROILED BEEFSTEAK.

1. Heat an empty frying pan to blue heat, or until it smokes. _No greasing is necessary._

2. Put in the steak.

3. Cook half minute.

4. Turn on other side.

5. Cook about 4 minutes.

6. Turn, and cook about 5 minutes longer.

7. Place on a hot platter, and spread with b.u.t.ter.

8. Sprinkle with a little pepper and salt, and 1 tablespoon finely chopped parsley.

9. Squeeze over it a little lemon juice.

10. Cover with another platter.

11. Remove top platter just before serving.

NOTE.--Mutton or Lamb Chops are pan-broiled in the same way.

[Ill.u.s.tration: "I'm Frying Pan."]

"That's it!" cried Frying Pan, delighted. "That's as good as broiling, though it took people a long time to find it out."

"It is not!" cried Gridiron Broiler angrily clicking his wires. "It is not, Spider!"

"For shame!" said Mary Frances. "Don't call names!"

"He isn't calling names," answered Frying Pan, "that's my other name, Frying Pan Spider."

Then to Gridiron he added, "Come, don't let's quarrel, you'll admit pan-broiling is very nearly as good for chops as broiling over the coals in a broiler, and quite as good for steaks--nearly."

[Ill.u.s.tration: "That's it!"]

"I was just getting ready to say," said Gridiron, "you didn't mean 'quite.'"

"It's time to commence!" loudly struck in Mantel Clock.

And then Mary Frances looked on in amazement.

In walked Basket with the potatoes for the potato soup; up sprang Knife ready to pare them; over ran Boiler Pan with some water.

"Why! Why!" exclaimed Mary Frances. "Why!"

[Ill.u.s.tration: "It is not!"]

"Yes!" said Tea Kettle, "we'll do everything in the recipes you've already made. All you need to do is to make the new recipes--with our help," which Mary Frances did.

Whenever she'd make a mistake, some one of the Kitchen People would correct and help her.

At six o'clock all the dinner was ready to serve, and the table was set.

"Oh, thank you, dear Kitchen People," said the beaming little girl; "this is the happiest time of my life."

[Ill.u.s.tration]

[Ill.u.s.tration: "They're grand!" chuckled Auntie Rolling Pin. "Can you bake them?"]

[Ill.u.s.tration: "YOU DEAR LOVELY CHILD," CRIED MOTHER.]

CHAPTER XXVI

MOTHER'S SURPRISE

AFTER one last look, Mary Frances, hearing the sound of carriage wheels, ran to answer the door before the bell rang; but Billy was there, too, and they opened the door together.

"Oh, Mother!" cried Mary Frances; "you dear, darling Mother! What a 'cry-baby' I am!" (as the tears rolled down her cheeks, and Mother kissed her and Billy and Father again and again) "What a 'cry-baby!'"

"Which she is not!" declared Billy. "Tell Mother,--Mary Frances, I can't wait for you to tell your secret!"

"A secret?" smiled Mother. "A secret, Mary Frances?"

[Ill.u.s.tration: "A secret?"]

"Oh, how good something smells!" said Mother. "It makes me hungry."

"Come right out, then," said Mary Frances, bowing, "Dinner is Served."

[Ill.u.s.tration: "You dear, darling Mother!"]