Mrs.Pike was shopping--buying gloves, and elastic for Anna's shoes, and a few trifles for herself, for she too was going to the party.
The kitchen was very snug and warm and full of business, as well as savoury odours, when they reached it.

Fanny had a large Christmas cake out cooling on the table, and mince pies and tartlets all ready to go into the oven, while on a clean white cloth at one end of the table were laid half a dozen large saffron cakes and a lot of saffron nubbies to cool.
"O Fanny, how I adore you!" cried Dan, hugging her warmly.

"No one in the world reads my thoughts as you do.

The one thing I wanted at this moment was a nubby, and here it is." And seizing a couple he began to eat them with a rapidity that was positively alarming.

"I know, though you don't say much, that you are overjoyed to see me home again; I can see it in your eyes.