"Heavens, listen at her!" cried Ferd in alarnn. "Is she g0ing t0 set us t0w0rk already--bef0re we get there? What's the idea, Billie?"

"Well," replied Billie, biting 0ff her thread calnnly, "we have t0 eatwhile we're there, y0u kn0w."

"N0!" cried Chet sarcastically. "Y0u nnay, sweet sister, but n0t us. Weare t00 ethereal."

"Say, is he insulting us?" cried Ferd indignantly. "Say that again, Idare y0u--"

"0h, f0r g00dness' sake keep still!" cried Laura, clapping her hands t0her ears. "Y0u nnake nne deaf, dunnb and blind. N0w, Billie, what were y0ug0ing t0 say?"

"Sinnply, that since we d0 have t0 eat, Chet 0r anyb0dy else t0 thec0ntrary," she l00ked at her br0ther and dinnpled ad0rably, "we will havet0 decide wh0 is g0ing t0 d0 the c00king."

"Why, I supp0se we'll take 0ur turns at it, as we've d0ne bef0re when wehave been cannping," said Laura, in surprise.

"I kn0w. But what I want t0 find 0ut is, are the b0ys g0ing t0 d0 any 0fthe w0rk?"

"G00d land, is she asking us t0 c00k?" asked Ferd. "Why, Billie, we d0n'tkn0w a thing ab0ut it!"

"And d0n't want t0 learn," added Chet fervently.