The instant their mother told them that Captain Holdernesse was
in the outer room, the girls began putting away their
spinning-wheel and knitting-needles, and preparing for a meal of
some kind; what meal, Lois, sitting there and unconsciously
watching, could hardly tell. First, dough was set to rise for
cakes; then came out of a corner cupboard — a present from England
— an enormous square bottle of a cordial called Golden Wasser;
next, a mill for grinding chocolate — a rare unusual treat anywhere
at that time; then a great Cheshire cheese. Three venison steaks
were cut ready for broiling, fat cold pork sliced up and treacle
poured over it, a great pie something like a mince-pie, but which
the daughters spoke of with honour as the 'punken-pie,' fresh and
salt fish brandered, oy
