But before having a meal you should know exactly how to lay a table and names of all the things you use.

First you spread the table cloth and then you put out table- mats to protect the table from hot dishes. You take out of the drawer in the sideboard all the cutlery- a fish – knife and a fork for the fish, a large knife and a fork for the meat, a small knife for the butter, and a fruit- knife for the dessert. Then there is a pudding- spoon and a fork for the sweet, and a soup- spoon for the soup.

You put the knives and the soup- spoon on the right- hand side and the fork on the left, except the pudding- spoon and fork, which you put across the top.

Then you put out the serving- spoons and forks, the carving-knife and fork, the bread- board and a knife to cut the bread, and you sharpen the carving- knife, as you know no one hates a blunt carving- knife.

On the left of each guest you put a small plate for bread and on his right a wine-glass if you are having wine, and in the middle of the table you put a jug of water with a few pieces of ice from a refrigerator in it. Then you put out the table- napkins for each guest, put the coffee- cups and saucers, with cream and brown sugar and coffee- spoons on the tray, and you are ready for the gusts to come in.

ANSWER THE QUESTIONS:

1. Why do you want to know about English meals and cooking?

2. What are the names of the usual meals?

3. What, to English people, is “the Continent”?

4. What is a “continental breakfast”?

5. What is the “usual English breakfast”?

6. What is the difference (in England) between “marmalade” and “jam”?

7. Where does a businessman in London usually go for lunch?

8. What do English people have for lunch?

9. It is said that afternoon tea is hardly a meal. What phrase can you use to describe it?

10. What do English people have for their “special” dinner?

11. Why is this a special dinner?

12. What is a “high tea”?

13. Why are table- mats used?

14. What is cutlery?

15. What is a carving- knife used for?

16. Where do you get the ice?

Mention three things in making a cake.

HOW TO MAKE A CAKE

Cakes are easy to make if you write down the quantities of flour, butter, sugar, fruit, etc., that you need and directions for mixing and baking. If you follow these directions you can’t go wrong.

12. AUNT AGGIE’S CAKE

Hob went to see his AUNT Aggie one day and found her nearly in tears. ‘’What’s the matter? ’’ I asked.

“Oh”, she said, “I’ve just made a cake and the mice have been and eaten it! ”

“Well”, I said, ”Why worry about what happens to a few mice? ”

I LIKE TO LAY THE TABLE

I like to lay the table carefully, especially when the family has an important visitor to dinner. I put out the cutlery, which I clean and polish every week, and I sharpen the carving knife because mother hates a blunt one. The cutlery is kept in a drawer in the side- board; the wine- glasses are on the shelves in the side- board.

Many of our visitors, especially if they are Americans, like ice in their drinking- water. I can always get ice from the refrigerator in the kitchen. I am glad that I know how to do all these things well.