A Collection of Beatrix Potter Stories Part 17

"It is all ready to put into the oven. Such lovely pie-crust; and I put in a little tin patty-pan to hold up the crust; and I made a hole in the middle with a fork to let out the steam--Oh I do wish I could eat my own pie, instead of a pie made of mouse!"

d.u.c.h.ess considered and considered and read Ribby' s letter again--

"A pink and white pie-dish-and YOU shall eat it all. 'You' means me--then Ribby is not going to even taste the pie herself? A pink and white pie-dis.h.!.+ Ribby is sure to go out to buy the m.u.f.fins. . . . .

Oh what a good idea! Why shouldn't I rush along and put my pie into Ribby's oven when Ribby isn't there?"

d.u.c.h.ess was quite delighted with her own cleverness!

Ribby in the meantime had received d.u.c.h.ess's answer, and as soon as she was sure that the little dog would come--she popped HER pie into the oven. There were two ovens, one above the other; some other k.n.o.bs and handles were only ornamental and not intended to open. Ribby put the pie into the lower oven; the door was very stiff.

"The top oven bakes too quickly,"

said Ribby to herself. "It is a pie of the most delicate and tender mouse minced up with bacon. And I have taken out all the bones; because d.u.c.h.ess did nearly choke herself with a fish-bone last time I gave a party. She eats a little fast --rather big mouthfuls. But a most genteel and elegant little dog infinitely superior company to Cousin Tabitha Twitchit."

Ribby put on some coal and swept up the hearth. Then she went out with a can to the well, for water to fill up the kettle.

Then she began to set the room in order, for it was the sitting-room as well as the kitchen. She shook the mats out at the front-door and put them straight; the hearth-rug was a rabbit-skin. She dusted the clock and the ornaments on the mantelpiece, and she polished and rubbed the tables and chairs.

Then she spread a very clean white table-cloth, and set out her best china tea-set, which she took out of a wall-cupboard near the fireplace. The tea-cups were white with a pattern of pink roses; and the dinner-plates were white and blue.

When Ribby had laid the table she took a jug and a blue and white dish, and went out down the field to the farm, to fetch milk and b.u.t.ter.

When she came back, she peeped into the bottom oven; the pie looked very comfortable.

Ribby put on her shawl and bonnet and went out again with a basket, to the village shop to buy a packet of tea, a pound of lump sugar, and a pot of marmalade.

And just at the same time, d.u.c.h.ess came out of HER house, at the other end of the village.

Ribby met d.u.c.h.ess half-way own the street, also carrying a basket, covered with a cloth. They only bowed to one another; they did not speak, because they were going to have a party.

As soon as d.u.c.h.ess had got round the corner out of sight--she simply ran! Straight away to Ribby's house!

Ribby went into the shop and bought what she required, and came out, after a pleasant gossip with Cousin Tabitha Twitchit.

Cousin Tabitha was disdainful afterwards in conversation--

"A little DOG indeed! Just as if there were no CATS in Sawrey!

And a PIE for afternoon tea! The very idea!" said Cousin Tabitha Twitchit.

Ribby went on to Timothy Baker's and bought the m.u.f.fins.

Then she went home.

There seemed to be a sort of scuffling noise in the back pa.s.sage, as she was coming in at the front door.

"I trust that is not that Pie: the spoons are locked up, however,"

said Ribby.

But there was n.o.body there.

Ribby opened the bottom oven door with some difficulty, and turned the pie. There began to be a pleasing smell of baked mouse!

d.u.c.h.ess in the meantime, had slipped out at the back door.

"It is a very odd thing that Ribby's pie was NOT in the oven when I put mine in! And I can t find it anywhere; I have looked all over the house. I put MY pie into a nice hot oven at the top. I could not turn any of the other handles; I think that they are all shams,"

said d.u.c.h.ess, "but I wish I could have removed the pie made of mouse! I cannot think what she has done with it? I heard Ribby coming and I had to run out by the back door!"

d.u.c.h.ess went home and brushed her beautiful black coat; and then she picked a bunch of flowers in her garden as a present for Ribby; and pa.s.sed the time until the clock struck four.

Ribby--having a.s.sured herself by careful search that there was really no one hiding in the cupboard or in the larder--went upstairs to change her dress.

She put on a lilac silk gown, for the party, and an embroidered muslin ap.r.o.n and tippet.

"It is very strange," said Ribby, "I did not THINK I left that drawer pulled out; has somebody been trying on my mittens?"

She came downstairs again, and made the tea, and put the teapot on the hob. She peeped again into the BOTTOM oven, the pie had become a lovely brown, and it was steaming hot.

She sat down before the fire to wait for the little dog. "I am glad I used the BOTTOM oven," said Ribby, "the top one would certainly have been very much too hot. I wonder why that cupboard door was open? Can there really have been some one in the house?"

Very punctually at four o'clock, d.u.c.h.ess started to go to the party.

She ran so fast through the village that she was too early, and she had to wait a little while in the lane that leads down to Ribby's house.

"I wonder if Ribby has taken MY pie out of the oven yet?" said d.u.c.h.ess, "and whatever can have become of the other pie made of mouse?"

At a quarter past four to the minute, there came a most genteel little tap-tappity. "Is Mrs. Ribston at home?" inquired d.u.c.h.ess in the porch.

"Come in! and how do you do, my dear d.u.c.h.ess?" cried Ribby.

"I hope I see you well?"

"Quite well, I thank you, and how do YOU do, my dear Ribby?"

said d.u.c.h.ess. "I've brought you some flowers; what a delicious smell of pie!"

"Oh, what lovely flowers! Yes, it is mouse and bacon!"

"Do not talk about food, my dear Ribby," said d.u.c.h.ess; "what a lovely white tea-cloth! . . . . Is it done to a turn? Is it still in the oven?"