Chapter XIV

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading WHEN NORAH WAS AWAY One day a messenger boy went around to the kitchen door with a telegram for Norah, telling her that her sister had broken her arm and she must come at once and take care of the children; as there were nine of them, including a tiny baby, Norah felt she must take the very first train, and so in only an hour she was off, and the Blairs' kitchen was empty.

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading WHEN NORAH WAS AWAY One day a messenger boy went around to the kitchen door with a telegram for Norah, telling her that her sister had broken her arm and she must come at once and take care of the children; as there were nine of them, including a tiny baby, Norah felt she must take the very first train, and so in only an hour she was off, and the Blairs' kitchen was empty.

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading WHEN NORAH WAS AWAY One day a messenger boy went around to the kitchen door with a telegram for Norah, telling her that her sister had broken her arm and she must come at once and take care of the children; as there were nine of them, including a tiny baby, Norah felt she must take the very first train, and so in only an hour she was off, and the Blairs' kitchen was empty.

one or some or every or all without specification

From this reading "I heard that, Brownie Blair, and I'll tell you this: I can cook just as well as any one in this family, if I do say it."

a human limb; technically the part of the superior limb between the shoulder and the elbow but commonly used to refer to the whole superior limb

From this reading WHEN NORAH WAS AWAY One day a messenger boy went around to the kitchen door with a telegram for Norah, telling her that her sister had broken her arm and she must come at once and take care of the children; as there were nine of them, including a tiny baby, Norah felt she must take the very first train, and so in only an hour she was off, and the Blairs' kitchen was empty.

surrounding, or on every side of, something

From this reading WHEN NORAH WAS AWAY One day a messenger boy went around to the kitchen door with a telegram for Norah, telling her that her sister had broken her arm and she must come at once and take care of the children; as there were nine of them, including a tiny baby, Norah felt she must take the very first train, and so in only an hour she was off, and the Blairs' kitchen was empty.

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading WHEN NORAH WAS AWAY One day a messenger boy went around to the kitchen door with a telegram for Norah, telling her that her sister had broken her arm and she must come at once and take care of the children; as there were nine of them, including a tiny baby, Norah felt she must take the very first train, and so in only an hour she was off, and the Blairs' kitchen was empty.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading WHEN NORAH WAS AWAY One day a messenger boy went around to the kitchen door with a telegram for Norah, telling her that her sister had broken her arm and she must come at once and take care of the children; as there were nine of them, including a tiny baby, Norah felt she must take the very first train, and so in only an hour she was off, and the Blairs' kitchen was empty.

from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)

From this reading WHEN NORAH WAS AWAY One day a messenger boy went around to the kitchen door with a telegram for Norah, telling her that her sister had broken her arm and she must come at once and take care of the children; as there were nine of them, including a tiny baby, Norah felt she must take the very first train, and so in only an hour she was off, and the Blairs' kitchen was empty.

a very young child (birth to 1 year) who has not yet begun to walk or talk

From this reading WHEN NORAH WAS AWAY One day a messenger boy went around to the kitchen door with a telegram for Norah, telling her that her sister had broken her arm and she must come at once and take care of the children; as there were nine of them, including a tiny baby, Norah felt she must take the very first train, and so in only an hour she was off, and the Blairs' kitchen was empty.

British statesman who became prime minister in 1997 (born in 1953)

From this reading "I heard that, Brownie Blair, and I'll tell you this: I can cook just as well as any one in this family, if I do say it."

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading WHEN NORAH WAS AWAY One day a messenger boy went around to the kitchen door with a telegram for Norah, telling her that her sister had broken her arm and she must come at once and take care of the children; as there were nine of them, including a tiny baby, Norah felt she must take the very first train, and so in only an hour she was off, and the Blairs' kitchen was empty.

a youthful male person

From this reading WHEN NORAH WAS AWAY One day a messenger boy went around to the kitchen door with a telegram for Norah, telling her that her sister had broken her arm and she must come at once and take care of the children; as there were nine of them, including a tiny baby, Norah felt she must take the very first train, and so in only an hour she was off, and the Blairs' kitchen was empty.

physically and forcibly separated into pieces or cracked or split

From this reading WHEN NORAH WAS AWAY One day a messenger boy went around to the kitchen door with a telegram for Norah, telling her that her sister had broken her arm and she must come at once and take care of the children; as there were nine of them, including a tiny baby, Norah felt she must take the very first train, and so in only an hour she was off, and the Blairs' kitchen was empty.

a male with the same parents as someone else

From this reading "_Even_ Jack," called her brother from the dining-room.

a junior Girl Scout

From this reading "However, it isn't as though we didn't know how to cook," said Brownie, when she came home from school and found out what had happened.

past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to

From this reading "_Even_ Jack," called her brother from the dining-room.

inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading "However, it isn't as though we didn't know how to cook," said Brownie, when she came home from school and found out what had happened.

to be able to, or to be allowed to

From this reading "Every single one of us can cook--even Jack."

the work of providing treatment for or attending to someone or something

From this reading WHEN NORAH WAS AWAY One day a messenger boy went around to the kitchen door with a telegram for Norah, telling her that her sister had broken her arm and she must come at once and take care of the children; as there were nine of them, including a tiny baby, Norah felt she must take the very first train, and so in only an hour she was off, and the Blairs' kitchen was empty.

plural of “child” — a young person of either sex

From this reading WHEN NORAH WAS AWAY One day a messenger boy went around to the kitchen door with a telegram for Norah, telling her that her sister had broken her arm and she must come at once and take care of the children; as there were nine of them, including a tiny baby, Norah felt she must take the very first train, and so in only an hour she was off, and the Blairs' kitchen was empty.

move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading WHEN NORAH WAS AWAY One day a messenger boy went around to the kitchen door with a telegram for Norah, telling her that her sister had broken her arm and she must come at once and take care of the children; as there were nine of them, including a tiny baby, Norah felt she must take the very first train, and so in only an hour she was off, and the Blairs' kitchen was empty.

prepare a hot meal

From this reading "However, it isn't as though we didn't know how to cook," said Brownie, when she came home from school and found out what had happened.

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading WHEN NORAH WAS AWAY One day a messenger boy went around to the kitchen door with a telegram for Norah, telling her that her sister had broken her arm and she must come at once and take care of the children; as there were nine of them, including a tiny baby, Norah felt she must take the very first train, and so in only an hour she was off, and the Blairs' kitchen was empty.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading "However, it isn't as though we didn't know how to cook," said Brownie, when she came home from school and found out what had happened.

a room used for dining

From this reading "_Even_ Jack," called her brother from the dining-room.

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading "I heard that, Brownie Blair, and I'll tell you this: I can cook just as well as any one in this family, if I do say it."

a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle

From this reading WHEN NORAH WAS AWAY One day a messenger boy went around to the kitchen door with a telegram for Norah, telling her that her sister had broken her arm and she must come at once and take care of the children; as there were nine of them, including a tiny baby, Norah felt she must take the very first train, and so in only an hour she was off, and the Blairs' kitchen was empty.

make void or empty of contents

From this reading WHEN NORAH WAS AWAY One day a messenger boy went around to the kitchen door with a telegram for Norah, telling her that her sister had broken her arm and she must come at once and take care of the children; as there were nine of them, including a tiny baby, Norah felt she must take the very first train, and so in only an hour she was off, and the Blairs' kitchen was empty.

divisible by two

From this reading "Every single one of us can cook--even Jack."

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading "Every single one of us can cook--even Jack."

a social unit living together

From this reading "I heard that, Brownie Blair, and I'll tell you this: I can cook just as well as any one in this family, if I do say it."

mat together and make felt-like

From this reading WHEN NORAH WAS AWAY One day a messenger boy went around to the kitchen door with a telegram for Norah, telling her that her sister had broken her arm and she must come at once and take care of the children; as there were nine of them, including a tiny baby, Norah felt she must take the very first train, and so in only an hour she was off, and the Blairs' kitchen was empty.

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading WHEN NORAH WAS AWAY One day a messenger boy went around to the kitchen door with a telegram for Norah, telling her that her sister had broken her arm and she must come at once and take care of the children; as there were nine of them, including a tiny baby, Norah felt she must take the very first train, and so in only an hour she was off, and the Blairs' kitchen was empty.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading WHEN NORAH WAS AWAY One day a messenger boy went around to the kitchen door with a telegram for Norah, telling her that her sister had broken her arm and she must come at once and take care of the children; as there were nine of them, including a tiny baby, Norah felt she must take the very first train, and so in only an hour she was off, and the Blairs' kitchen was empty.

set up or found

From this reading "However, it isn't as though we didn't know how to cook," said Brownie, when she came home from school and found out what had happened.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading "However, it isn't as though we didn't know how to cook," said Brownie, when she came home from school and found out what had happened.

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading WHEN NORAH WAS AWAY One day a messenger boy went around to the kitchen door with a telegram for Norah, telling her that her sister had broken her arm and she must come at once and take care of the children; as there were nine of them, including a tiny baby, Norah felt she must take the very first train, and so in only an hour she was off, and the Blairs' kitchen was empty.

past form of “happen” — come to pass

From this reading "However, it isn't as though we didn't know how to cook," said Brownie, when she came home from school and found out what had happened.

detected or perceived by the sense of hearing

From this reading "I heard that, Brownie Blair, and I'll tell you this: I can cook just as well as any one in this family, if I do say it."

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading WHEN NORAH WAS AWAY One day a messenger boy went around to the kitchen door with a telegram for Norah, telling her that her sister had broken her arm and she must come at once and take care of the children; as there were nine of them, including a tiny baby, Norah felt she must take the very first train, and so in only an hour she was off, and the Blairs' kitchen was empty.

where you live at a particular time

From this reading "However, it isn't as though we didn't know how to cook," said Brownie, when she came home from school and found out what had happened.

a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day

From this reading WHEN NORAH WAS AWAY One day a messenger boy went around to the kitchen door with a telegram for Norah, telling her that her sister had broken her arm and she must come at once and take care of the children; as there were nine of them, including a tiny baby, Norah felt she must take the very first train, and so in only an hour she was off, and the Blairs' kitchen was empty.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading "However, it isn't as though we didn't know how to cook," said Brownie, when she came home from school and found out what had happened.

used to add a contrasting statement

From this reading "However, it isn't as though we didn't know how to cook," said Brownie, when she came home from school and found out what had happened.

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading "I heard that, Brownie Blair, and I'll tell you this: I can cook just as well as any one in this family, if I do say it."

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading "I heard that, Brownie Blair, and I'll tell you this: I can cook just as well as any one in this family, if I do say it."

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading "I heard that, Brownie Blair, and I'll tell you this: I can cook just as well as any one in this family, if I do say it."

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading WHEN NORAH WAS AWAY One day a messenger boy went around to the kitchen door with a telegram for Norah, telling her that her sister had broken her arm and she must come at once and take care of the children; as there were nine of them, including a tiny baby, Norah felt she must take the very first train, and so in only an hour she was off, and the Blairs' kitchen was empty.

-ing form of “include” — have as a part, be made up out of

From this reading WHEN NORAH WAS AWAY One day a messenger boy went around to the kitchen door with a telegram for Norah, telling her that her sister had broken her arm and she must come at once and take care of the children; as there were nine of them, including a tiny baby, Norah felt she must take the very first train, and so in only an hour she was off, and the Blairs' kitchen was empty.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading "However, it isn't as though we didn't know how to cook," said Brownie, when she came home from school and found out what had happened.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading "However, it isn't as though we didn't know how to cook," said Brownie, when she came home from school and found out what had happened.

a small worthless amount

From this reading "Every single one of us can cook--even Jack."

and nothing more

From this reading "I heard that, Brownie Blair, and I'll tell you this: I can cook just as well as any one in this family, if I do say it."

a room equipped for preparing meals

From this reading WHEN NORAH WAS AWAY One day a messenger boy went around to the kitchen door with a telegram for Norah, telling her that her sister had broken her arm and she must come at once and take care of the children; as there were nine of them, including a tiny baby, Norah felt she must take the very first train, and so in only an hour she was off, and the Blairs' kitchen was empty.

be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about

From this reading "However, it isn't as though we didn't know how to cook," said Brownie, when she came home from school and found out what had happened.

a person who carries a message

From this reading WHEN NORAH WAS AWAY One day a messenger boy went around to the kitchen door with a telegram for Norah, telling her that her sister had broken her arm and she must come at once and take care of the children; as there were nine of them, including a tiny baby, Norah felt she must take the very first train, and so in only an hour she was off, and the Blairs' kitchen was empty.

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading WHEN NORAH WAS AWAY One day a messenger boy went around to the kitchen door with a telegram for Norah, telling her that her sister had broken her arm and she must come at once and take care of the children; as there were nine of them, including a tiny baby, Norah felt she must take the very first train, and so in only an hour she was off, and the Blairs' kitchen was empty.

the cardinal number that is the sum of eight and one

From this reading WHEN NORAH WAS AWAY One day a messenger boy went around to the kitchen door with a telegram for Norah, telling her that her sister had broken her arm and she must come at once and take care of the children; as there were nine of them, including a tiny baby, Norah felt she must take the very first train, and so in only an hour she was off, and the Blairs' kitchen was empty.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading WHEN NORAH WAS AWAY One day a messenger boy went around to the kitchen door with a telegram for Norah, telling her that her sister had broken her arm and she must come at once and take care of the children; as there were nine of them, including a tiny baby, Norah felt she must take the very first train, and so in only an hour she was off, and the Blairs' kitchen was empty.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading WHEN NORAH WAS AWAY One day a messenger boy went around to the kitchen door with a telegram for Norah, telling her that her sister had broken her arm and she must come at once and take care of the children; as there were nine of them, including a tiny baby, Norah felt she must take the very first train, and so in only an hour she was off, and the Blairs' kitchen was empty.

from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)

From this reading WHEN NORAH WAS AWAY One day a messenger boy went around to the kitchen door with a telegram for Norah, telling her that her sister had broken her arm and she must come at once and take care of the children; as there were nine of them, including a tiny baby, Norah felt she must take the very first train, and so in only an hour she was off, and the Blairs' kitchen was empty.

on one occasion

From this reading WHEN NORAH WAS AWAY One day a messenger boy went around to the kitchen door with a telegram for Norah, telling her that her sister had broken her arm and she must come at once and take care of the children; as there were nine of them, including a tiny baby, Norah felt she must take the very first train, and so in only an hour she was off, and the Blairs' kitchen was empty.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading WHEN NORAH WAS AWAY One day a messenger boy went around to the kitchen door with a telegram for Norah, telling her that her sister had broken her arm and she must come at once and take care of the children; as there were nine of them, including a tiny baby, Norah felt she must take the very first train, and so in only an hour she was off, and the Blairs' kitchen was empty.

and nothing more

From this reading WHEN NORAH WAS AWAY One day a messenger boy went around to the kitchen door with a telegram for Norah, telling her that her sister had broken her arm and she must come at once and take care of the children; as there were nine of them, including a tiny baby, Norah felt she must take the very first train, and so in only an hour she was off, and the Blairs' kitchen was empty.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading "However, it isn't as though we didn't know how to cook," said Brownie, when she came home from school and found out what had happened.

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading "However, it isn't as though we didn't know how to cook," said Brownie, when she came home from school and found out what had happened.

express in words

From this reading "I heard that, Brownie Blair, and I'll tell you this: I can cook just as well as any one in this family, if I do say it."

an educational institution

From this reading "However, it isn't as though we didn't know how to cook," said Brownie, when she came home from school and found out what had happened.

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading WHEN NORAH WAS AWAY One day a messenger boy went around to the kitchen door with a telegram for Norah, telling her that her sister had broken her arm and she must come at once and take care of the children; as there were nine of them, including a tiny baby, Norah felt she must take the very first train, and so in only an hour she was off, and the Blairs' kitchen was empty.

being or characteristic of a single thing or person

From this reading "Every single one of us can cook--even Jack."

a female person who has the same parents as another person

From this reading WHEN NORAH WAS AWAY One day a messenger boy went around to the kitchen door with a telegram for Norah, telling her that her sister had broken her arm and she must come at once and take care of the children; as there were nine of them, including a tiny baby, Norah felt she must take the very first train, and so in only an hour she was off, and the Blairs' kitchen was empty.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading WHEN NORAH WAS AWAY One day a messenger boy went around to the kitchen door with a telegram for Norah, telling her that her sister had broken her arm and she must come at once and take care of the children; as there were nine of them, including a tiny baby, Norah felt she must take the very first train, and so in only an hour she was off, and the Blairs' kitchen was empty.

carry out

From this reading WHEN NORAH WAS AWAY One day a messenger boy went around to the kitchen door with a telegram for Norah, telling her that her sister had broken her arm and she must come at once and take care of the children; as there were nine of them, including a tiny baby, Norah felt she must take the very first train, and so in only an hour she was off, and the Blairs' kitchen was empty.

a message transmitted by telegraph

From this reading WHEN NORAH WAS AWAY One day a messenger boy went around to the kitchen door with a telegram for Norah, telling her that her sister had broken her arm and she must come at once and take care of the children; as there were nine of them, including a tiny baby, Norah felt she must take the very first train, and so in only an hour she was off, and the Blairs' kitchen was empty.

express in words

From this reading "I heard that, Brownie Blair, and I'll tell you this: I can cook just as well as any one in this family, if I do say it."

disclosing unintentionally something concealed

From this reading WHEN NORAH WAS AWAY One day a messenger boy went around to the kitchen door with a telegram for Norah, telling her that her sister had broken her arm and she must come at once and take care of the children; as there were nine of them, including a tiny baby, Norah felt she must take the very first train, and so in only an hour she was off, and the Blairs' kitchen was empty.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading WHEN NORAH WAS AWAY One day a messenger boy went around to the kitchen door with a telegram for Norah, telling her that her sister had broken her arm and she must come at once and take care of the children; as there were nine of them, including a tiny baby, Norah felt she must take the very first train, and so in only an hour she was off, and the Blairs' kitchen was empty.

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading WHEN NORAH WAS AWAY One day a messenger boy went around to the kitchen door with a telegram for Norah, telling her that her sister had broken her arm and she must come at once and take care of the children; as there were nine of them, including a tiny baby, Norah felt she must take the very first train, and so in only an hour she was off, and the Blairs' kitchen was empty.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading WHEN NORAH WAS AWAY One day a messenger boy went around to the kitchen door with a telegram for Norah, telling her that her sister had broken her arm and she must come at once and take care of the children; as there were nine of them, including a tiny baby, Norah felt she must take the very first train, and so in only an hour she was off, and the Blairs' kitchen was empty.

in or at that place or location

From this reading WHEN NORAH WAS AWAY One day a messenger boy went around to the kitchen door with a telegram for Norah, telling her that her sister had broken her arm and she must come at once and take care of the children; as there were nine of them, including a tiny baby, Norah felt she must take the very first train, and so in only an hour she was off, and the Blairs' kitchen was empty.

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading "I heard that, Brownie Blair, and I'll tell you this: I can cook just as well as any one in this family, if I do say it."

in spite of the fact that

From this reading "However, it isn't as though we didn't know how to cook," said Brownie, when she came home from school and found out what had happened.

very small

From this reading WHEN NORAH WAS AWAY One day a messenger boy went around to the kitchen door with a telegram for Norah, telling her that her sister had broken her arm and she must come at once and take care of the children; as there were nine of them, including a tiny baby, Norah felt she must take the very first train, and so in only an hour she was off, and the Blairs' kitchen was empty.

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading WHEN NORAH WAS AWAY One day a messenger boy went around to the kitchen door with a telegram for Norah, telling her that her sister had broken her arm and she must come at once and take care of the children; as there were nine of them, including a tiny baby, Norah felt she must take the very first train, and so in only an hour she was off, and the Blairs' kitchen was empty.

create by training and teaching

From this reading WHEN NORAH WAS AWAY One day a messenger boy went around to the kitchen door with a telegram for Norah, telling her that her sister had broken her arm and she must come at once and take care of the children; as there were nine of them, including a tiny baby, Norah felt she must take the very first train, and so in only an hour she was off, and the Blairs' kitchen was empty.

the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading "Every single one of us can cook--even Jack."

precisely as stated

From this reading WHEN NORAH WAS AWAY One day a messenger boy went around to the kitchen door with a telegram for Norah, telling her that her sister had broken her arm and she must come at once and take care of the children; as there were nine of them, including a tiny baby, Norah felt she must take the very first train, and so in only an hour she was off, and the Blairs' kitchen was empty.

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading WHEN NORAH WAS AWAY One day a messenger boy went around to the kitchen door with a telegram for Norah, telling her that her sister had broken her arm and she must come at once and take care of the children; as there were nine of them, including a tiny baby, Norah felt she must take the very first train, and so in only an hour she was off, and the Blairs' kitchen was empty.

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading "However, it isn't as though we didn't know how to cook," said Brownie, when she came home from school and found out what had happened.

(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)

From this reading "I heard that, Brownie Blair, and I'll tell you this: I can cook just as well as any one in this family, if I do say it."

inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically

From this reading WHEN NORAH WAS AWAY One day a messenger boy went around to the kitchen door with a telegram for Norah, telling her that her sister had broken her arm and she must come at once and take care of the children; as there were nine of them, including a tiny baby, Norah felt she must take the very first train, and so in only an hour she was off, and the Blairs' kitchen was empty.

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading WHEN NORAH WAS AWAY One day a messenger boy went around to the kitchen door with a telegram for Norah, telling her that her sister had broken her arm and she must come at once and take care of the children; as there were nine of them, including a tiny baby, Norah felt she must take the very first train, and so in only an hour she was off, and the Blairs' kitchen was empty.

used to ask for information about something

From this reading "However, it isn't as though we didn't know how to cook," said Brownie, when she came home from school and found out what had happened.

at the time that

From this reading WHEN NORAH WAS AWAY One day a messenger boy went around to the kitchen door with a telegram for Norah, telling her that her sister had broken her arm and she must come at once and take care of the children; as there were nine of them, including a tiny baby, Norah felt she must take the very first train, and so in only an hour she was off, and the Blairs' kitchen was empty.

in the company of; together with

From this reading WHEN NORAH WAS AWAY One day a messenger boy went around to the kitchen door with a telegram for Norah, telling her that her sister had broken her arm and she must come at once and take care of the children; as there were nine of them, including a tiny baby, Norah felt she must take the very first train, and so in only an hour she was off, and the Blairs' kitchen was empty.

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading "I heard that, Brownie Blair, and I'll tell you this: I can cook just as well as any one in this family, if I do say it."