cookie jar in between meals—for there never was a child born that wouldn't eat between meals if it could."
Alice thought of her problem during the entire afternoon. She might have saved her thought to some other purpose, because Tom returned early that evening with a solution.
"I know what we are going to do," he said. "I am tired of a nightmare three times a day. There are going to be No More Meals!"
This did not appeal to Alice's practical sense.
"What are you going to do?" she inquired.
"You and I are going to a restaurant," replied Tom; "these are all the meals that are going to be."
"You're going to let them starve?" Alice inquired.
"Leave them without food for a day or two," Tom pronounced, "and they'll come around all right. They'll see how foolish they have been, and then they'll all eat their meals in peace and quietness, and eat what is put before them. Of course I don't mean to deprive the children of all means of access to food. Three times a day bread and milk or breakfast food or something like that can be laid out on the table. If they want to eat that, let them. If not, let them let it alone. As for me, I am through! What I like is peace."
"I think," responded Alice, "that it's a ridiculous idea."
This response of hers was ill-timed. It led to conflict, and with Tom's voicing an unaltered resolve that the children were going to behave.
Meantime the idea of no more meals had seized on Sara's imagination. Leaning over the fence she told all who chose to listen what was going to happen. She told the Williamses next door. She told Gladys Grayson. She made a visit to Mrs. Painters to tell the news.
