“A picnic. A big picnic! Father Moulder making it at Cumberland Pen to-morrow, an’ it’s only one an’ sixpence for trainage and hentrance to the pen. You ’ave to provide you’ own refreshment; but that can’t cost more dan one an’ six. I want you come. Y’u will come?”
Susan’s answer was interrupted by the entrance of her mother, who brought in a mug of chocolate and a plate containing a big slice of bread.
Letitia spread out her handkerchief in her lap, and rested the plate on it, then took the mug from the old woman. Eating and drinking, she continued the conversation.
“Y’u must come, me child! It’s goin’ to be grand. All the young men in Kingston is goin’. There is to be six piece of music, an’ dancing all day.”
Catherine’s face lighted up, then fell as she remembered that she had no money.
Susan shook her head slowly, the wish to go struggling with her desire to save.
“It will cost me three shillin’s,” she said, “an’ I don’t see how I can manage it.” She paused as a vision of the dancing on the sward rose before her mind’s eye.
“I engage a bag of coal for Thursday, an’ I must have to take it. An’ I ’ave to save money. . . .”
“Cho!” pleaded Letitia. “Come, man! It’s only once!”
The old man, still sitting at the threshold, had overheard the conversation. By way of showing disinterested generosity, he called out: