This was dreadful and Artie floundered.
"She—she won't be at home," he stammered. "That is, I don't think she will be."
"Well, Jess or Margy will do," Carrie returned. "I want to ask them something."
"They won't be home, either," said Artie. "Nobody will be at home to-morrow."
"Won't your mother?" Mattie inquired curiously.
Artie shook his head.
"Are you going some place?" prodded Carrie.
"We're going on a picnic," poor Artie announced, swallowing an extremely cold spoonful of ice-cream before he was ready. "We're going to Blackberry Island."
Carrie merely said, "Oh," but he was sure she was thinking this information over. In a panic he slipped down from his seat and almost ran for the door. He dashed into the post-office, got the mail, and ran most of the way home.