“Well, don’t you catch any crabs, Milly,” said Aunt Emma.
“Catch crabs, Aunt Emma!” said Milly, very much puzzled. “Crabs are only in the sea, aren’t they?”
“There’s a very big kind just about here,” said Mr. Norton, “and they’re always looking out for little children, particularly little girls.”
“I don’t understand, father,” said Milly, opening her eyes very wide.
“Have some more tea, then,” said Mr. Norton, “that always makes people feel wiser.”
“Father, aren’t you talking nonsense?” said Olly, stopping in the middle of a piece of cake to think about what his father was saying.
“Very likely, Olly. People always do at picnics. Aunt Emma, when are you going to tell us your story?”
“When we’ve washed the things and put them away,” said Aunt Emma, “then Olly shall sing us two songs, and I’ll tell you my story.”
But the children were so hungry that it was a long time before they gave up eating bread and butter, and then, when at last tea was over, what fun it was washing the cups and plates in the lake! Aunt Emma and Olly washed, and mother and Milly dried the things on a towel, and then everything was packed away into the baskets, and mother and Aunt Emma folded up the table-cloth, and put it tidily on the top of everything.
“I did like that,” said Milly, sighing as the last basket was fastened down. “I wish you’d let me help Sarah wash up the tea-things at home, mother.”