The Meeker Cottage had been early astir, and the zeal displayed by the younger members of the household was marveled at.
"Even though a picnic is to be the attraction, I never remember seeing such a concerted desire to be off," Mr. Marley remarked.
"Well, we can't be late," replied Ward, and all the Riddle Club giggled at some secret joke.
They were ahead of time, each with a large square box of lunch in one hand and a heavy sweater in the other. The mothers had insisted on the sweaters. The grown-ups had started in the car almost as soon as the Blackberry Island party left, and Polly felt relieved, for she believed that if Carrie's desire for a picnic was too strong, she might prevail upon the motorists to take her with them.
"And I do think they ought to have one day without any children to bother them," Polly confided to Fred and Jess.
"Especially Carrie," Fred agreed, with a grin.
Larry helped the girls and boys into the boat, and then made them nervous by tinkering with the engine.
"There's nothing the matter with it," he explained; "but I want it to run a bit smoother. We'll be off in a jiffy now."
Until the engine sputtered cheerfully, six pairs of anxious eyes kept watch on the wharf. Quarter past eight was not half past nine, but, as Ward said dismally, "you never can tell."