CHAPTER VII.
A POOR RELATION.
"When are we to have the picnic, mamma?" asked Julia at breakfast the next morning.
"Any day will suit me; but as your father and Gerald will only be here for a short time, I think we must arrange to have it as early as possible the week after next."
"Let us have it on Monday. Yes, Monday," cried Rupert and Julia together.
"I am going out boating on Monday," said Gerald lazily.
"Tuesday or Wednesday," suggested Mrs. Woburn.
"I am engaged for Tuesday also, but Wednesday is clear, I believe," replied the young man in a careless manner, as if it did not signify much to him whether he formed one of the party or not.
"How horrid of you to put it off so long," exclaimed his sister angrily. "I daresay Wednesday will be wet."
"Nous verrons," he replied, as he sauntered from the room with his hands in his pockets. He looked in again at the door to say, "I shall not be back until the evening, mother;" and in another moment the banging of the front-door told them that he had left the house.