“Not a party, a picnic. They’re the proper caper up here. And only a little one. The baskets are all ready, and the men carry them,—then we go to a lovely picnic place,—not very far,—and we all help get the supper. You see, up here, if you don’t let the servants go off skylarking every so often, they leave.” “I should think they would!” exclaimed Eleanor, earnestly; “I’m ready to leave now! How do you stand it, Betty? I think it’s fearful!” “Oh, it isn’t the sort of thing you’d like, I know. Put those glasses on that tray, will you, Nell? But I love this wild, craggy place, it’s like an eagle’s eyrie, and I adore the solitude,—especially as there are plenty of people, and a golf club and an artist colony and all sorts of nice things in easy distance.” “You mean that little village or settlement we came through on the way from the station?” “Yes; and a few of their choicest inhabitants are coming up this afternoon for our picnic.” “That sounds better,” Eleanor sighed, “but I’d never want to stay here. Is Rod Grannis here? Is that why you came?” “Hush, Nell. Don’t mention Rod’s name, at least, not before Father. You see, Dad’s down on him.” “Down on Rod! Why for?” “Only because he’s too fond of little Betty.” “Who is? Rod or your father?” Betty laughed. “Both of ’em! But, I mean, Dad is down on any young man who’s specially interested in me.” “Oh, I know. So is my father. I don’t let it bother me. Fathers are all like that. Most of the girls I know say so.” “Yes, I know it’s a fatherly failing; but Dad is especially rabid on the subject. There you take the basket of cakes and I’ll carry the tray.” It was nearly five o’clock when the picnic party was finally ready to start for its junketing. Mrs Blackwood had arrived, bringing her two promised young men, Ted Landon and John Clark. Rearrayed in picnic garb, the house guests were ready for the fun, and the Frederick Varians were getting together and looking over the baskets of supper. “If we could only have kept one helper by us,” bemoaned Minna Varian, her speech accompanied by her usual wringing of her distressed hands. “I begged Kelly to stay but he wouldn’t.” “The circus is here only one day, you know, Mrs Varian,” Landon told her, “and I fancy every servant in Headland Harbor has gone to it. But command me——” “Indeed, we will,” put in Betty; “carry this, please, and, Uncle Herbert, you take this coffee paraphernalia.” Divided among the willing hands, the luggage was not too burdensome, and the cavalcade prepared to start. “No fear of burglars, I take it,” said Herbert, as his brother closed the front door and shook it to be sure it was fastened.