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364 AN EVENING WITH EACHEL. conversation, Rachel discovered that she had left her rings and bracelets at the theater, and she sent her ser- vant back for them. But she had only one servant, and, behold ! there was no one to get the supper ready. Rachel, nothing abashed, took off some of her finery, put on a dressing sacque and night cap, and went into the kitchen. Fifteen minutes passed. She reappeared, " as pretty as an angel," carrying a dish in which were three beefsteaks cooked by herself. She placed the dish in the middle of the table, and gaily said : " Regale ! " She then went back to the kitchen and returned with a tureen of smoking soup in one hand, and in the other a saucepan full of spinach. That was the supper. No plates, no spoons ; for the servant had carried away the keys of the cupboard. Rachel opened the sideboard, found a salad dish full of salad, discovered one plate, took some salad with the wooden salad spoon, sat down and began to eat. " But," cried her mother, who was very hungry, " there are some brass platters in the kitchen." Rachel dutifully brought them and distributed them among the guests ; and while they were eating, as best they could, the following conversation took place : Mother — My dear, your steaks are overdone. Rachel — It is true ; they are as hard as wood. When I did our housekeeping I was a better cook. It is one talent the less. No matter ; I have lost on one side, but I have gained on the other. You don't eat, Sarah. Sarah — No, I cannot eat from brass plates. Rachel — Oh ! It is since I bought a dozen silver plates with my savings that you can no longer endure brass ! If I become richer, you will want one servant behind your chair and another before it. Never will I turn those old platters out of our house. They have served us too long for that. Haven't they, mother ?