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“I remember mother telling me some wonderful anecdotes of life below stairs.
On one occasion the kitchen staff were preparing a banquet and Ivy was cooking soufflés - a particular favourite of Lady North's. Trouble was, soon before the guests were due to arrive, Ivy found that the solid-fuel cooking range was nowhere near the required temperature to cook the soufflés.
Fortunately Ivy was a resourceful lady who was not easily beaten. “Quick”, she says to Grace. “Go into the pantry and cut me a good slice of bacon”.
“But why Miss Ivy?” says Grace in surprise. “You'll see”, says Ivy.
Well, Grace duly returns with the bacon and Ivy opens the oven door and throws it inside. Of course the oven goes woosh and starts to burn much hotter which is exactly what Ivy’s wanted. It looks as if the day has been saved.
But when Grace goes to get the soufflés out of the oven, what a shock she gets. They had risen well, but were covered from top to toe in a thick layer of soot that had come down the chimney.
“Oh no, says Grace, what shall we do now?” Quick witted Ivy says “We haven’t time to cook anything else now. Grace, you brush off the soot as best you can and we’ll hope that Lady North doesn't notice anything.”
So the soufflés are served to the guests and after the meal has finished and the kitchen staff are clearing up, who should appear round the door but Lady North herself. “Well, Ivy, she says. What wonderful soufflés. Surely the finest you’ve ever cooked!”
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