"I'm afraid the summer boarders would think _they_ had been marked
out for hard fortune, after eating my meals. What do I know about fancy
cooking?"

"Nothing; and you don't want to. Most of them have got their stomachs so
upset by their high-spiced Frenchy dishes that they've got to have a
change of diet. You can cook fish to perfection, for I've tried you, and
make good bread, and you are naturally neat and dainty, which goes for
much. Take my cookbook home, and study up a few simple, nice recipes
this winter, so's to be ready. Don't try for too much, but do
excellently well all you undertake; and try it. You know I'll help you
all I can; I believe you'll succeed!"

"But what rooms have I?"

"I knew you'd say that, and I am prepared with an answer. There is, to
begin with, the spare room off your living-room."

"Oh, that?" broke in Sara, as if Miss Prue had touched on something
sacred.

"Yes, just that: we all have too much veneration for our spare rooms.
Now, answer me truly, of what earthly use is it to you?"

"Why, none; but mother's best things"--

"Will lie there, given over to spiders, dampness, and moths, till they
fall to pieces. Use them; that's what they were made for, and, so far,
they haven't fulfilled their purpose in life much better than some of