`` Lexy , do you know where that letter of Governor Howland 's to Father is ? Uncle James wants to see it . '' Alexina , not waiting to shut the oven door -- for delay might impress Uncle James unfavourably -- rushed upstairs to get the letter . She was ten minutes finding it . Then , remembering her pies , she flew back to the kitchen . In the middle of the floor she stopped as if transfixed , staring at the table . The turkey was gone . And the plum pudding was gone ! And the mince pies were gone ! Nothing was left but the platters ! For a moment Alexina refused to believe her eyes . Then she saw a trail of greasy drops on the floor to the open door , out over the doorstep , and along the boards of the walk to the back fence . Alexina did not make a fuss . Even at that horrible moment she remembered the importance of making a favourable impression . But she could not quite keep the alarm and excitement out of her voice as she called Stephen , and Stephen knew that something had gone wrong as he came quickly through the hall . `` Is the turkey burned , Lexy ? '' he cried . `` Burned ! No , it 's ten times worse , '' gasped Alexina . `` It 's gone -- gone , Stephen .
And the pudding and the mince XXXXX , too .
Uncle eyes fuss middle pies platters plum times trail voice