In a few minutes a brisk little fire was burning between the stones and Mrs. Merrill added the sticks the girls brought her till she had a nice bed of coals.
"Do let's eat now," said Marcia, "I'm starved! Then we can finish our picking afterwards."
"It's only half past eleven," said Mrs. Merrill, laughingly.
"Who cares?" asked Ruth. "That's the fun of a picnic—doing something different."
"Yes, let's," said Frances and Virginia together. So, as every one seemed willing, the baskets were opened and the goodies spread out on a tablecloth laid over the biggest rock.
"I love a picnic that happens before fly time," said Virginia as she spread a tempting pile of cookies out where every one could see.
"We all do," agreed Mrs. Merrill, "and as there doesn't seem to be one single prowler around, I guess I'll set out my cake." And of course the girls "oh"-ed and exclaimed over its tempting whiteness as she set it on the rock table.
"What have you in your basket, Mary Jane?" asked Frances.
Mary Jane looked at her mother and, as Mrs. Merrill nodded approvingly, she laid back the napkin and gave each girl a long wire toasting fork.
"Well, what in the world, mother!" exclaimed Alice. "Did you bring marshmallows?"