Then he carried back the canister into the pantry, and returned with a panful of eggs.

"You can set the table, I suppose, anyhow ?" said he.

"You know enough to do as much as that ?" "Yes, I can do that," replied Maria, with alacrity, and indeed she could.

Her mother had exacted some small household tasks from her, and setting the table was one of them.

She hurried into the dining-room and began setting the table with the pretty blue-flowered ware that her mother had been so proud of.