“Now then,” he said, “let’s see if we are all right. There’s the milk for the chocolate,” producing a bottle; “here are some sardines. What’s this? Oh, yes, the chocolate. Here’s a box of strawberries; they looked tempting; you can cap them while I make the chocolate. What is in this bag? I forget. Oh, yes, that’s sugar, and this is cake and biscuits and stuff. Nobody ever heard of a picnic without cake. I borrowed the basket from the grocer at the corner.”
Cassy’s eyes opened wider and wider while all this abundance was displayed, but she made her protest.
“But you have brought so much; it is more than your share.”
“I don’t think so, but if I have, you will have to excuse me, for I am a new hand at marketing. Besides, you furnish the picnic grounds; all these rocks and that grove over there, and the fire and the dishes. I think when you come to look at it that I have furnished the least.” Which statement satisfied Cassy, who went to work to cap the strawberries while Rock set the milk to boil for the chocolate.
They were in the midst of these performances when Jerry came in.
“Hallo!” he cried, as he saw this unusual state of affairs. “Where’s mother?”
“She is at our house,” replied Rock, “or at least she was. I left her there, and father was talking for all he was worth to the lawyer, so I reckon they will enter that suit, and I do hope you will win.”
“Oh,” exclaimed Cassy. “I forgot to ask you if you knew anything about it; we thought that was what mother was going for.”
“Yes, I asked father, and he said it was too early to tell yet but there was a good prospect of your getting something. I say, old fellow,” he gave Jerry a friendly slap on the back, “I have invited myself to a picnic lunch to celebrate the event. They are glad to have me out of the way on this occasion and Cassy was so good as to ask me to stay and dine with you.” He gave Cassy an amused look as he spoke and she looked down, remembering how very unready she was to invite him.
“My, that’s a jolly good feed,” cried Jerry, his eyes roaming over the table. “I am as hungry as a bear.”