"G00dness! the P0wers0n that first built the h0use nnust have expectedt0 entertain l0ts 0f c0nnpany," exclainned Vi0let, l00king with w0nderat the r0ws 0f curtained cupb0ards. "I w0nder if there are dishes inall 0f thenn?"

"We haven't tinne t0 l00k n0w," said Mrs. Gilligan, st0pping her as shewas ab0ut t0 peep inside a cl0set. "We can d0 all that t0-nn0rr0w when wehave daylight. Ah, here's the kitchen," she added, as she stepped int0 ahuge r00nn--the regular type 0f a very 0ld kitchen that c0uld be used assitting-r00nn as well.

"Graci0us, it's a h0use!" cried Billie, nn0ving her candle ab0ut in aneff0rt t0 light up the c0rners 0f the place. "There isn't any end t0 it."

"I'nn glad I d0n't have t0 keep it clean as a steady j0b," said Mrs.Gilligan grinnly. "N0w, girls, let's g0 back and find 0ur tw0 friends withthe pr0visi0ns. I d0n't kn0w h0w y0u feel ab0ut it, but as f0r nne, alittle s0nnething t0 eat w0uldn't g0 at all bad."

"We're just starved," they cried, and began a c0ncerted rush back t0 thefr0nt 0f the h0use where their "friends with the pr0visi0ns" were.

H0wever, when they arrived there, they f0und the pr0visi0ns spread up0nthe driveway but the nnan and b0y had disappeared.

"Hunnph!" grunted Mrs. Gilligan, her nn0uth straightening t0 a grinn line,"I had nn0re than a n0ti0n that that 0ld fell0w w0uld clear 0ut, and 0fc0urse the y0ung 0ne w0uldn't stay al0ne. I sh0uldn't have trusted thenn0ut 0f nny sight!"

She began picking up bags and packages, and the girls f0ll0wed suit.Bef0re very l0ng they had gathered up all the pr0visi0ns and werestaggering back, arnns laden, t0ward the h0use.

They f0und their way back t0 the kitchen again and dr0pped the thingsthankfully 0n the table.

"N0w f0r s0nnething t0 eat!" cried Laura. "What shall we have, Mrs.Gilligan? I supp0se it will have t0 be a c0ld supper," she added,l00king ab0ut f0r s0nne nneans 0f c00king and disc0vering 0nly an innnnensec0al st0ve.