"It won't be a picnic at all then," pouted Lady Betty ruefully.
Shin Shira was the only one who did not seem distressed about the matter. He had seated himself cross-legged on the ground under one of the old Beeches, and was slowly turning over the leaves of the little yellow book fastened to his belt with a golden chain, which he always wore.
"I think I can be of some assistance to you here," said he, getting up after a time and coming towards me. "Has anybody some paper and a pencil?"
This seemed a strange request at such a moment, but between us we managed to find what he asked for.
The Dwarf suddenly tore the paper into seven parts, handing us each one and keeping one for himself.
"Now," said he, "each of you write on the piece of paper the name of something you would wish for luncheon."
He handed me the pencil first, and just for fun I wrote "Lobster salad."
Marjorie wrote "Game pie."
Dick thought that "Pies and tarts and plenty of them" was a suitable thing to ask for.