And then all went round the house to see what had happened.

All the water-pipes that there were were frozen. The milk was
frozen. They could open the door into the wood-house; but the
wood-house door into the yard was banked up with snow; and the
front door, and the piazza door, and the side door stuck. Nobody
could get in or out!

Meanwhile, Amanda, the cook, had succeeded in making the
kitchen fire, but had discovered there was no furnace coal.

"The furnace coal was to have come to-day," said Mrs. Peterkin,
apologetically.

"Nothing will come to-day," said Mr. Peterkin, shivering.

But a fire could be made in a stove in the dining-room.

All were glad to sit down to breakfast and hot coffee. The little
boys were much pleased to have "ice-cream" for breakfast.

"When we get a little warm," said Mr. Peterkin, "we will consider
what is to be done."

"I am thankful I ordered the sausages yesterday," said Mrs.
Peterkin. "I was to have had a leg of mutton to-day."

"Nothing will come to-day," said Agamemnon, gloomily.