all decided in favor of lemonade. There was another reason for Mrs.
White not having tea: she has no dining-room, but eats in her kitchen
summer and winter. It is a very large room, but of course in such
heat as there was that day even a little fire would have made it
unendurably warm. So she had planned to have her biscuits baked in
Mrs. Bemis' stove and have lemonade.

Our preparations were nearly completed, and we were placing the last
things on the table, when my sister-in-law, Louisa Field, came out,
and I knew that something was wrong.

"What is the matter?" said I.

Louisa looked at Flora as if she were almost afraid to speak, but
finally it came out: Mrs. Jameson must have some hot water to prepare
her health food, as she dared not eat our hurtful cake and pie,
especially in such heat.

Flora Clark's eyes snapped. She could not be repressed any longer,
so she turned on poor Louisa as if she were the offender. "Let her
go home, then!" said she. "She sha'n't have any hot water in this
house!"

Flora spoke very loud, and Mrs. White was in agony. "Oh, Flora!
don't, don't!" said she. But she looked at the cold kitchen stove
in dismay.

I suggested boiling the kettle on Mrs. Bemis' stove; but that could
not be done, for the hired girl had gone away buggy-riding with her
beau after she had brought in the biscuits, and Mrs. Bemis was not at