"There now," said the good woman when she had tucked a red napkin over the top of the basket. "Run along and have a good time. I guess all the quarts of blackberries you get won't make many jars of jam, but you'll have just as much fun. If I get the chance I'll run up to your grandma's or send word that you won't be home to dinner. Maybe I'll see your grandpa as he comes back from the post-office."
And so, well content, Marian sped forth to join the girls who were waiting.
"Are you going?" they asked. "You didn't have to go home, did you?"
"No, Mrs. Hunt put up a lunch for me. She is always so very kind."
"What have you got?" asked Marjorie eagerly.
"Three sandwiches, ham ones, and six cookies, two turnovers and an apple." Marian enumerated the articles with pride.
"I guess that will be enough," said Marjorie, condescendingly. "But you will have to cut the turnovers in two so they will go around; we haven't any, you know."
Marian felt somewhat abashed, and thought that Marjorie was not very polite. She would not have inquired into the contents of their lunch baskets for the world. However, she trotted along very contentedly till they reached Alice's home where Stella was to join them. "I found some crackers and cheese, and there are two slices of bread and jam," announced this older girl as she came out. "I think perhaps we can find an apple tree along the way. Did you bring anything, Marjorie?"
"Yes, I have something in here." Marjorie swung her tin bucket in air.
"Then we'd better start," continued Stella. "Who is that with you? Oh, I see, it is Marian Otway. Hello, Marian."