thepotatodidnotgoround，andthesquashwasverylumpy；buttheguestsappearedpolitelyunconsciousofthesetrifles；andthemasterandmistressofthehouseclearedthetablewithappetitesthatanyonemightenvythem。
Thejoyofskimmingajug-fullofcreammitigatedtheanguishfeltforthelossofthepies，andAsia’sdespisedcakeprovedatreasureinthewayofdessert。
“ThatisthenicestlunchIeverhad；can’tIdoiteveryday？“askedDaisyasshescrapedupandatetheleavingsallround。
“Youcancookthingseverydayafterlessons，butIpreferthatyoushouldeatyourdishesatyourregularmeals，andonlyhaveabitofgingerbreadforlunch。To-day，beingthefirsttime，Idon’tmind，butwemustkeepourrules。Thisafternoonyoucanmakesomethingforteaifyoulike，“
saidMrs。Jo，whohadenjoyedthedinner-partyverymuch，thoughnoonehadinvitedhertopartake。
“DoletmemakeflapjacksforDemi，helovesthemso，andit’ssuchfuntoturnthemandputsugarinbetween，“criedDaisy，tenderlywipingayellowstainoffAnnabella’sbrokennose，forBellahadrefusedtoeatsquashwhenitwaspresseduponherasgoodfor“lumatism，“acomplaintwhichitisnowondershesufferedfrom，consideringthelightnessofherattire。
“ButifyougiveDemigoodies，alltheotherswillexpectsomealso，andthenyouwillhaveyourhandsfull。“
“Couldn’tIhaveDemicomeuptoteaalonejustthisonetime？AndafterthatIcouldcookthingsfortheothersiftheyweregood，“proposedDaisy，withasuddeninspiration。
“Thatisacapitalidea，Posy!Wewillmakeyourlittlemessesrewardsforthegoodboys，andIdon’tknowoneamongthemwhowouldnotlikesomethingnicetoeatmorethanalmostanythingelse。Iflittlemenarelikebigones，goodcookingwilltouchtheirheartsandsoothetheirtempersdelightfully，“
addedAuntJo，withamerrynodtowardthedoor，wherestoodPapaBhaer，surveyingthescenewithafacefullofamusement。
“Thatlasthitwasforme，sharpwoman。Iacceptit，foritistrue；
butifIhadmarriedtheeforthycooking，heart’sdearest，Ishouldhavefaredbadlyalltheseyears，“answeredtheprofessor，laughingashetossedTeddy，whobecamequiteapoplecticinhisendeavorstodescribethefeasthehadjustenjoyed。
Daisyproudlyshowedherkitchen，andrashlypromisedUncleFritzasmanyflapjacksashecouldeat。Shewasjusttellingaboutthenewrewardswhentheboys，headedbyDemi，burstintotheroomsnuffingtheairlikeapackofhungryhounds，forschoolwasout，dinnerwasnotready，andthefragranceofDaisy’ssteakledthemstraighttothespot。
AprouderlittledamselwasneverseenthanSallyasshedisplayedhertreasuresandtoldtheladswhatwasinstoreforthem。Severalratherscoffedattheideaofhercookinganythingfittoeat，butStuffy’sheartwaswonatonce。NatandDemihadfirmfaithinherskill，andtheotherssaidtheywouldwaitandsee。Alladmiredthekitchen，however，andexaminedthestovewithdeepinterest。Demiofferedtobuytheboileronthespot，tobeusedinasteam-enginewhichhewasconstructing；andNeddeclaredthatthebestandbiggestsaucepanwasjustthethingtomelthisleadinwhenheranbullets，hatchets，andsuchtrifles。
Daisylookedsoalarmedattheseproposals，thatMrs。Jothenandtheremadeandproclaimedalawthatnoboyshouldtouch，use，orevenapproachthesacredstovewithoutaspecialpermitfromtheownerthereof。Thisincreaseditsvalueimmenselyintheeyesofthegentlemen，especiallyasanyinfringementofthelawwouldbepunishedbyforfeitureofallrighttopartakeofthedelicaciespromisedtothevirtuous。
Atthispointthebellrang，andtheentirepopulationwentdowntodinner，whichmealwasenlivenedbyeachoftheboysgivingDaisyalistofthingshewouldliketohavecookedforhimasfastasheearnedthem。
Daisy，whosefaithinherstovewasunlimited，promisedeverything，ifAuntJowouldtellherhowtomakethem。ThissuggestionratheralarmedMrs。Jo，forsomeofthedisheswerequitebeyondherskill­；wedding-cake，forinstance，bull’s-eyecandy；andcabbagesoupwithherringsandcherriesinit，whichMr。Bhaerproposedashisfavorite，andimmediatelyreducedhiswifetodespair，forGermancookerywasbeyondher。
Daisywantedtobeginagaintheminutedinnerwasdone，butshewasonlyallowedtoclearup，fillthekettlereadyfortea，andwashoutherapron，whichlookedasifshehadaChristmasfeast。Shewasthensentouttoplaytillfiveo’clock，forUncleFritzsaidthattoomuchstudy，evenatcookingstoves，wasbadforlittlemindsandbodies，andAuntJoknewbylongexperiencehowsoonnewtoyslosetheircharmiftheyarenotprudentlyused。
EveryonewasverykindtoDaisythatafternoon。Tommypromisedherthefirstfruitsofhisgarden，thoughtheonlyvisiblecropjustthenwaspigweed；Natofferedtosupplyherwithwood，freeofcharge；Stuffyquiteworshippedher；Nedimmediatelyfelltoworkonalittlerefrigeratorforherkitchen；andDemi，withapunctualitybeautifultoseeinonesoyoung，escortedhertothenurseryjustastheclockstruckfive。Itwasnottimeforthepartytobegin，buthebeggedsohardtocomeinandhelpthathewasallowedprivilegesfewvisitorsenjoy，forhekindledthefire，ranerrands，andwatchedtheprogressofhissupperwithintenseinterest。
Mrs。Jodirectedtheaffairasshecameandwent，beingverybusyputtingupcleancurtainsalloverthehouse。
“AskAsiaforacupofsourcream，thenyourcakeswillbelightwithoutmuchsoda，whichIdon’tlike，“wasthefirstorder。
Demitoredownstairs，andreturnedwiththecream，alsoapuckered-upface，forhehadtasteditonhisway，andfounditsosourthathepredictedthecakeswouldbeuneatable。Mrs。Jotookthisoccasiontodeliverashortlecturefromthestep-ladderonthechemicalpropertiesofsoda，towhichDaisydidnotlisten，butDemidid，andunderstoodit，asheprovedbythebriefbutcomprehensivereply：
“Yes，Isee，sodaturnssourthingssweet，andthefizzlingupmakesthemlight。Let’sseeyoudoit，Daisy。“
“Fillthatbowlnearlyfullofflourandaddalittlesalttoit，“continuedMrs。Jo。
“Ohdear，everythinghastohavesaltinit，seemstome，“saidSally，whowastiredofopeningthepill-boxinwhichitwaskept。
“Saltislikegood-humor，andnearlyeverythingisbetterforapinchofit，Posy，“andUncleFritzstoppedashepassed，hammerinhand，todriveuptwoorthreenailsforSally’slittlepanstohangon。
“Youarenotinvitedtotea，butI’llgiveyousomecakes，andIwon’tbecross，“saidDaisy，puttingupherflourylittlefacetothankhimwithakiss。
“Fritz，youmustnotinterruptmycookingclass，orI’llcomeinandmoralizewhenyouareteachingLatin。Howwouldyoulikethat？“saidMrs。
Jo，throwingagreatchintzcurtaindownonhishead。
“Verymuch，tryitandsee，“andtheamiableFatherBhaerwentsingingandtappingaboutthehouselikeamammothwoodpecker。
“Putthesodaintothecream，andwhenit’fizzles，’asDemisays，stiritintotheflour，andbeatitupashardaseveryoucan。Haveyourgriddlehot，butteritwell，andthenfryawaytillIcomeback，“andAuntJovanishedalso。
Suchaclatterasthelittlespoonmade，andsuchabeatingasthebattergot，itquitefoamed，Iassureyou；andwhenDaisypouredsomeontothegriddle，itroselikemagicintoapuffyflapjackthatmadeDemi’smouthwater。Tobesure，thefirstonestuckandscorched，becausesheforgotthebutter，butafterthatfirstfailureallwentwell，andsixcapitallittlecakesweresafelylandedinadish。
“IthinkIlikemaple-syrupbetterthansugar，“saidDemi，fromhisarm-chairwherehehadsettledhimselfaftersettingthetableinanewandpeculiarmanner。
“ThengoandaskAsiaforsome，“answeredDaisy，goingintothebath-roomtowashherhands。
Whilethenurserywasemptysomethingdreadfulhappened。Yousee，Kithadbeenfeelinghurtalldaybecausehehadcarriedmeatsafelyandyetgotnonetopayhim。Hewasnotabaddog，buthehadhislittlefaultsliketherestofus，andcouldnotalwaysresisttemptation。Happeningtostrollintothenurseryatthatmoment，hesmeltthecakes，sawthemunguardedonthelowtable，andneverstoppingtothinkofconsequences，swallowedallsixatonemouthful。Iamgladtosaythattheywereveryhot，andburnedhimsobadlythathecouldnotrepressasurprisedyelp。
Daisyheardit，ranin，sawtheemptydish，alsotheendofayellowtaildisappearingunderthebed。Withoutawordsheseizedthattail，pulledoutthethief，andshookhimtillhisearsflappedwildly，thenbundledhimdown-stairstotheshed，wherehespentalonelyeveninginthecoal-bin。
CheeredbythesympathywhichDemigaveher，Daisymadeanotherbowlfulofbatter，andfriedadozencakes，whichwereevenbetterthantheothers。
Indeed，UncleFritzaftereatingtwosentupwordthathehadnevertastedanysonice，andeveryboyatthetablebelowenviedDemiattheflapjackpartyabove。
Itwasatrulydelightfulsupper，forthelittleteapotlidonlyfelloffthreetimesandthemilkjugupsetbutonce；thecakesfloatedinsyrup，andthetoasthadadeliciousbeef-steakflavor，owingtocook’susingthegridirontomakeiton。Demiforgotphilosophy，andstuffedlikeanycarnalboy，whileDaisyplannedsumptuousbanquets，andthedollslookedonsmilingaffably。
“Well，dearies，haveyouhadagoodtime？“askedMrs。Jo，comingupwithTeddyonhershoulder。
“Averygoodtime。Ishallcomeagainsoon，“answeredDemi，withemphasis。
“I’mafraidyouhaveeatentoomuch，bythelookofthattable。“
“No，Ihaven’t；Ionlyatefifteencakes，andtheywereverylittleones，“protestedDemi，whohadkepthissisterbusysupplyinghisplate。
“Theywon’thurthim，theyaresonice，“saidDaisy，withsuchafunnymixtureofmaternalfondnessandhousewifelypridethatAuntJocouldonlysmileandsay：
“Well，onthewhole，thenewgameisasuccessthen？“
“Ilikeit，“saidDemi，asifhisapprovalwasallthatwasnecessary。
“Itisthedearestplayevermade!“criedDaisy，huggingherlittledish-tubassheproposedtowashupthecups。“Ijustwisheverybodyhadasweetcookingstovelikemine，“sheadded，regardingitwithaffection。
“Thisplayouttohaveaname，“saidDemi，gravelyremovingthesyrupfromhiscountenancewithhistongue。
“Ithas。“
“Oh，what？“askedbothchildreneagerly。
“Well，IthinkwewillcallitPattypans，“andAuntJoretired，satisfiedwiththesuccessofherlasttraptocatchasunbeam。
CHAPTERVIAFIREBRAND
“Please，ma’am，couldIspeaktoyou？Itissomethingveryimportant，“
saidNat，poppinghisheadinatthedoorofMrs。Bhaer’sroom。
Itwasthefifthheadwhichhadpoppedinduringthelasthalf-hour；
butMrs。Jowasusedtoit，soshelookedup，andsaid，briskly，­；
“Whatisit，mylad？“
Natcamein，shutthedoorcarefullybehindhim，andsaidinaneager，anxioustone，­；
“Danhascome。“
“WhoisDan？“
“He’saboyIusedtoknowwhenIfiddledroundthestreets。Hesoldpapers，andhewaskindtome，andIsawhimtheotherdayintown，andtoldhimhowniceitwashere，andhe’scome。“
“But，mydearboy，thatisratherasuddenwaytopayavisit。“
“Oh，itisn’tavisit；hewantstostayifyouwilllethim!“saidNatinnocently。
“Well，Idon’tknowaboutthat，“beganMrs。Bhaer，ratherstartledbythecoolnessoftheproposition。
“Why，Ithoughtyoulikedtohavepoorboyscomeandlivewithyou，andbekindto’emasyouweretome，“saidNat，lookingsurprisedandalarmed。
“SoIdo，butIliketoknowsomethingaboutthemfirst。Ihavetochoosethem，becausetherearesomany。Ihavenotroomforall。IwishIhad。“
“ItoldhimtocomebecauseIthoughtyou’dlikeit，butifthereisn’troomhecangoawayagain，“saidNat，sorrowfully。
Theboy’sconfidenceinherhospitalitytouchedMrs。Bhaer，andshecouldnotfindthehearttodisappointhishope，andspoilhiskindlittleplan，soshesaid，­；
“TellmeaboutthisDan。“
“Idon’tknowanything，onlyhehasn’tgotanyfolks，andhe’spoor，andhewasgoodtome，soI’dliketobegoodtohimifIcould。“
“Excellentreasonseveryone；butreally，Nat，thehouseisfull，andIdon’tknowwhereIcouldputhim，“saidMrs。Bhaer，moreandmoreinclinedtoproveherselfthehavenofrefugeheseemedtothinkher。
“Hecouldhavemybed，andIcouldsleepinthebarn。Itisn’tcoldnow，andIdon’tmind，Iusedtosleepanywherewithfather，“saidNat，eagerly。
SomethinginhisspeechandfacemadeMrs。Joputherhandonhisshoulder，andsayinherkindesttone：
“Bringinyourfriend，Nat；Ithinkwemustfindroomforhimwithoutgivinghimyourplace。“