Friday evening was fair, with a beautiful sunset, and everything boded well for beautiful weather the next day. Rosy Posy, after her bread-and-milk supper, went happily off to bed, and dropped to sleep while telling her beloved Boffin of the fun to come. The other children dined with their parents, and the conversation was exclusively on the one great subject. "I don't think it _could_ rain; do you, Father?" said Kitty, looking over her shoulder, at the fading sunset tints. "I think it _could_, my dear, but I don't think it will. All signs point to fair weather, and I truly believe we'll have a perfect Ourday and a jolly good time." "We always do," said Midge, happily. "I wonder why all fathers don't have Ourdays with their children. Gladys' father never gets home till seven o'clock, and she has to go to bed at eight, so she hardly sees him at all, except Sundays, and of course they can't play on Sundays." "They must meet as strangers," said Mr. Maynard. "I think our plan is better. I like to feel chummy with my own family, and the only way to do it is to keep acquainted with each other. I wish I could have a whole day with you every week, instead of only every month." "Can't you, Father?" said Kitty, wistfully. "No, daughter. I have too much business to attend to, to allow me a holiday every week. But perhaps some day I can manage it. Are you taking a hammock to-morrow, King?" "Yes, sir. I thought Mother might like an afternoon nap, and Rosy Posy always goes to sleep in the morning." "Thoughtful boy. Take plenty of rope, but you needn't bother to take trees to swing it from." "No, we'll take the chance of finding some there." "Yes, doubtless somebody will have left them from the last picnic. Your young friends are going?" "Yes," said Marjorie. "King and I asked the two Fultons, and Kitty asked Dorothy Adams. With all of us, and Nurse Nannie, that makes just ten." "And the driver of the wagon makes eleven," said Mr. Maynard. "I suppose we've enough rations for such an army?" "Yes, indeed," said Mrs. Maynard, smiling. "Enough for twenty, I think, but it's well to be on the safe side." The children went to bed rather earlier than usual, in order to be up bright and early for the picnic. Their play-clothes, which were invariably of blue and white striped seersucker, were laid out in readiness, and they fell asleep wishing it were already morning. But when the morning did come! Marjorie wakened first, and before she opened her eyes she heard an ominous sound that sent a thrill of dismay to her heart. She sprang out of bed, and ran to the window. Yes, it was not only raining, it was simply _pouring_. One of those steady, determined storms that show no sign of speedy clearing. The sky was dark, leaden gray, and the rain came down in what seemed to be a thick, solid volume of water. "Oh!" said Marjorie, with a groan of disappointment from her very heart. "Kitty," she said, softly, wondering if her sister were awake.