And then, one day, Russ saw his mother and father and Aunt Jo looking over some papers and small books. Russ knew what they were—time tables, to tell when trains and boats leave and arrive. He had seen them at his father's real estate office, and also at the house in Pineville just before the family started for Grandma Bell's.
"Oh, are we going home?" asked Russ, his voice showing the sadness he felt at such a thing happening.
"Going home? What makes you think that?" asked his father.
"Indeed, I hope you're not going home for a good while yet," said Aunt Jo. "It hardly seems a week since you came."
"Well, I'm glad you have enjoyed us," said Mother Bunker.
"But are we going home?" persisted Russ.
"No, not yet," answered his father. "You think because we are looking at time tables we are going to leave. Well, we are, but we are only going on an excursion, or picnic."
"Where?" asked Russ, and once more he felt happy.
"Out to Nantasket Beach," said Aunt Jo. "That's a nice trip by boat. It takes about an hour and a half from Boston, and we are looking to see what time the boats sail and come back."
"Oh, are we coming back?" asked Russ.