There was
no news, only that the Levelers had opposed Cromwell, and he had put
them down with the other troops, and Jacob said that it appeared that
they were all squabbling and fighting with each other.
Time passed; the month of November came on without any thing to
disturb the daily employments of the family in the forest: when one
evening, Jacob, who had returned from hunting with Edward (the first
time they had been out since the season commenced) told Alice that she
must do all she could to give them a good dinner the next day, as it
was to be a feast.
"Why so, Jacob?"
"If you can not guess, I won't tell you till the time comes," replied
Jacob.
"Well then, Humphrey must help us," replied Alice, "and we will do
what we can. I will try, now that we have some meat, to make a grand
dinner."
Alice made all the preparations, and had for dinner the next day a
piece of baked venison, a venison stew, a pair of roast chickens, and
an apple pie--which, for them, was a very grand dinner indeed. And it
was very well dressed: for Jacob had taught her to cook, and by
degrees she improved upon Jacob's instruction. Humphrey was quite as
clever at it as she was; and little Edith was very useful, as she
plucked the fowls, and watched the things while they were cooking.
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