[Illustration: Half fill the teapot with boiling water.]
"Like the old country!" thought Mary Frances. "That's the funniest way for anything to taste I ever heard of. Maybe he's so hungry he's a little bit out of his head. Oh, I know what I'll do! I'll make an omelet for him! I don't believe he's eaten omelet since--maybe, since he was as little as I am--maybe a hundred years. He looks a hundred years old, I'm sure. I hope I have eggs to make one--oh, yes, I know there are enough. Where's the recipe? Oh, here it is!"
[Illustration: The largest cup she could find.]
1. Separate yolks and whites, putting them into different bowls.
2. Add dash of salt to whites, and dash of salt and white pepper to yolks.
3. Add cold water to whites, allowing 1 teaspoon to each.
4. Add cold water to yolks, allowing 1 tablespoon to each.
6. Melt 1 tablespoon butter in a smooth frying pan.
8. Spread whites over yolks, making a little hole in the center for steam to escape.
9. Cook slowly for 5 minutes, or until the puffed up whites look dry.
[Illustration: Separate yolks and whites.]
"That's not so easy," thought the little girl, "but I guess I can manage it--he'll not be very par-tic-u-lar."
But she had very little trouble; for she read what her mother had written; and followed each direction exactly, all the way through the recipe.
[Illustration: "Blessin's on ye, Little Miss," said the tramp.]
"Blessin's on ye, Miss," said the tramp, as Mary Frances carried the smoking dish out on the porch to him with a slice of bread and butter. "You've got a kind heart, you 'ave, to be shure. Ain't that--whatever it is--a beauty!"
"It is real pretty," said Mary Frances, feeling quite proud. "I just made it for you. I'm learning to cook. My mother's away--and I'm here all alone just now except for Jubey and the Kitchen F---- (she caught herself just in time). Jubey is the kitten, you know. My lessons just came to Omelet, and--why, what's the matter with it?" she cried, dismayed. "It's all fallen flat! I wonder if I got it done. It gets flatter and flatter."
The tears sprang to her eyes. "I'm so sorry," she said.
[Illustration: "Why, what's the matter with it?"]
"Oh, never mind, Miss," said the tramp; "I ain't been chooser for mony a day--and this 'ere homelet, or whatever it is, will be all right, all right,"--and he hungrily began to eat.