Nellie smiled. "It is so peaceful, Hope."
"Oh!" said Hope regretfully, "I would give something if—" She broke off abruptly, and the rest being now anxious to push on, there was no opportunity of knowing what Hope wanted, but Nellie guessed.
Without further adventure they reached Orston Cliff, and everyone voted for an early dinner and a long afternoon.
The mysteries of the hamper and baskets were now explored. All the little party were too natural and simple to disguise their interest, and so everybody set to and helped to spread the feast.
A place was fixed upon under some shady trees, where in front they had a beautiful view of the sea far beneath them. The ground sloped away from them gradually for about fifty yards, and then came the edge of Orston Cliff, and beyond that an expanse of sea and sky, whose blue to-day rivalled each other.
"You are very grave, Nellie," said Maude.
"Only it is so beautiful," answered Nellie, taking a deep breath, and turning to the baskets once more.
"Here is Maude's bread," said George, unwrapping a snowy cloth, and displaying a number of tempting rolls. "And here is another package with it."
"What's this?" said Mary, feeling it with her fat little fingers. "It feels very knobby."
"Let it alone, Mary," said Maude. "It is not to be opened till we have said grace."