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had it for her dinner. George was much vexed, for it was roley jam; so he made up his mind. he would pay attention to his papa next time.

Well, papa,' said Ally, 'now about the pic-nic; where shall we go? whom shall we ask, and what shall we take with us?'

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'Let's go to the top of Black Cap,' said George. No, to Fairy Dell,' said Horace.

'No, no,' said Alice; 'much better go to the Rocks.'

'I vote we ask the Dales,' said one.

'No; they are horrid; and don't let us have the Browns,' said another of the children.

'When you have quite finished, my dears,' said their mamma, 'perhaps you will let your papa say what he thinks best.'

So the three children looked rather red.

Then Mr. Lawley said, 'I think Black Cap will not do, because it is all up hill to get there, and you will be tired out before we arrive. Then Fairy Dell is too far off; and there is no shade at the Rocks from the sun, or shelter in case it should rain.'

'Oh, papa, it won't rain,' said George.

'Well, my dear, it may. I scarcely ever had a pic-nic when it did not.'

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Why, papa?' asked Horace.

I really cannot tell you, my boy; nor can any one else. What do you say to Cheveleigh Wood?'

'Papa! the very place,' said Horace.

'Jolly!' said Ally, forgetting she was not a little boy.

George was half off his chair, and his tongue was coming out of his mouth, when he remembered the roley jam pudding and stopped, and did no more than kick his toes up under the table again and again, until his mamma told him to be still; for the glasses were jingling and jumping off the cloth.

'As to whom we shall ask,' said Mr. Lawley, 'we will ask all the boys and girls we know, excepting children under seven years of age.'

6

Children!' said George.

Well, young men and young ladies,' said papa. 'Don't, papa,' said George, wriggling on his chair.

Now, you

There seems no pleasing you. children, say your grace, and then be off. Mamma and I will settle about the pic-nic, and you shall hear all you want to know to-morrow morning.'

To-morrow morning the children heard several things. First, that everybody who had been invited to the pic-nic had accepted; secondly, that

they were going, the boys on donkeys, and the girls in Farmer Miller's cart, with the hampers; and last, and best of all, that the pic-nic was to come off that very day. How the boys shouted and talked when they heard this last piece of news and although George made rather a fool of himself, his papa and mamma took no notice. The fun of it was that they had scarcely any time to think of it. Breakfast was no sooner over than the people began to arrive. Then the hampers were hauled into the passage, and Farmer Miller's cart drew up at the door, and George spent his time in climbing on and off the horse which drew it. Twelve little boys and girls, all red in the faces with excitement, and scarcely able to stand still, they were so happy. Do you think you will ever remember all their names if I tell them you? I hope you will know them well enough-some of them too well-before the end of the book. First, you know, there were three Lawleys-Horace, Ally, and George. Then there arrived two Jacksons--Bob and Tom. Bob was twelve years old, and. Tom was eleven. There were a little girl and boy named Dale- Mary, aged nine, and Willie, eight years old. Then came a nice, handsome boy, called Harry Walton; he was not much more than twelve, but he looked

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older. He brought with him a very little chap, who was only five; and as soon as Bob and Tom Jackson saw the little chap they called out, No children under seven years of age allowed; send him home; pack him off: he has no business here!' So Mr. Lawley came out to see what was the matter, and Harry said

'I came to ask you, sir, if I may bring my little brother Toby with me. I shall think it very kind of you if you will allow me. If I cannot, I am afraid I must ask you to let me stay at home; for I must not leave Toby.'

Now Toby's real name was Frank; but he always had the nickname of Toby.

'Well, stay at home,' called out Tom Jackson rudely; 'no brats are allowed to go.'

But Mr. Lawley thought differently. He said'We cannot do without you, Harry; so we must stretch a point, and let Toby go also.'

Toby's eyes glistened with pleasure; but that cross Tom Jackson began grumbling that it was a great shame, and that nobody wanted Harry Walton; but when Mr. Lawley glanced at him, he held his tongue and pretended he was looking at the horse's harness, which was a nasty way of behaving, I think. Still, as it was a day of pleasure, Mr. Lawley said nothing; but I am

sure he thought Tom Jackson a very disagreeable boy, as you will also. So Toby was allowed to go too. Harry Walton, and Horace and Alice, were the most useful of all the children. They carried things, and packed things, and helped everybody.

Tom and Bob Jackson did nothing; but they kept whispering together and stooping towards the ground; and as Harry Walton passed near them, he heard Bob say, that something or other would be an awful lark;' and then they both giggled, and hid away something they had in their hands.

There were seven donkeys brought up to the door for seven boys to ride. I am sure Mr. Lawley must have searched the neighbourhood to find so many donkeys. As soon as the donkeys came, Alice, who was rather a little hoyden, ran to her mamma, and begged to be allowed to ride a donkey instead of going in the waggon.

'You cannot, my dear,' her mamma said. 'There are only seven donkeys, and there are seven boys to ride them.'

"Could not two of the boys get on one donkey?' asked Alice. Perhaps they would not mind.' 'But perhaps the donkey would mind,' said Mrs. Lawley.

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