"Nonsense!" cries Dick. "Why should we, when there's a comfortably furnished room with a large fire upstairs?"
"Indeed, you boys are not going to have the run of that room," Molly puts in hastily, and Honor adds:
"No, certainly not! And just think, what a litter we would make having our lunch up there. This will do very well; only I wish we had something to sit down upon."
Hugh, suddenly appearing to be inspired with some grand idea, darts across the kitchen and begins vigorously pulling at the dresser drawers.
"Stop a bit!" he cries. "I've got an idea; here, Regy, lend a hand!"
And in a trice they have got out two of the drawers and have seated the two girls on them with grave politeness; Molly's being placed sideways, propped against the wall, in consideration of the extra length of her legs; while Honor's is turned upside down, and makes quite a comfortable seat.
"If you don't feel comfortable you can change with us, you know," says Regy, as he and Hugh seat themselves on the wide window-sill. "The rest of you must dispose yourselves on the dresser and the hamper—Ted's the lightest, so he'd better have the hamper."
Then follows an impromptu sort of picnic, which gives complete satisfaction to all, especially as to the fare; for kind Mrs. Trent has not forgotten that boys and girls, especially when working hard, are apt to get hungry, and rightly thinking that it would probably be a long time before anyone had leisure to think about cooking, she has included many useful things, with an eye to future needs.
"O, I say!" cries Alick, suddenly laying down his knife and fork; "isn't there anything to drink?"
"Pump, out there," briefly explains Molly, waving a jam tart in the direction of the garden.