"Well, then we'll start," said Daddy Blake. Just then there came a ring at the front door bell, and into the hall tramped Charlie and Mary Johnson, who lived next door to the Blake family. The visitors were warmly dressed, and Charlie had two pairs of skates slung over his shoulder by the straps.
"Oh, we're going on a pic-nic, Mary!" cried Mab, thinking perhaps her little girl friend had come to ask her to go skating.
"So are we!" exclaimed Charlie, and he smiled at Daddy Blake, who laughed heartily.
"Oh, how funny!" cried Hal. "Are you going to where we are going, I wonder?"
The Johnson children looked at Mr. Blake and giggled.
"Yes," he answered with a smile, "they are going to the same place we are, Hal and Mab. I invited them to go with us, as I thought you would like company. And I guess mamma put up lunch enough for all of us; didn't you?" he asked, turning toward his wife.
"Indeed I did!" cried Mamma Blake. "There's a fine lunch."
"Oh, how lovely of you to come with us!" cried Mab, as she put her arms around Mary.
"It's just dandy!" shouted Hal, clapping Charlie on the back. Then, as he saw that Charlie was carrying his sister Mary's skates, Hal took Mab's and put them on a strap with his own, saying:
"I'll carry them for you, Mab!"