"What is jispies?" asked Prudy, a little frightened. "Be they up in the Pines?"
"It means a picnic, that's all," said aunt Madge, "and a very nice time you will have."
"A picnic!" screamed all the voices in chorus. It was almost too good to believe. Grace clapped her hands and laughed. Susy ran about the room like a crazy thing. Prudy hopped up and down, and Horace tried to stand on his head.
"Now scamper, every one of you," said aunt Madge, "for I must go right to cooking.—Let's see, you shall have some cunning little sandwiches, some hard-boiled eggs; and what else can you think of, Louise?"
"Stop a minute," said aunt Louise, drawing on a long face, "I hope Susy and Prudy——"
"Tarts and plum-cake!" cried Susy and Grace.
"Oranges, dates, and figs!" said Horace.
"And them little cookies you cut out of a thimble, you know," added Prudy, anxious to put in a word.
"Hear me speak," said aunt Louise. "I hope Susy and Prudy don't think they are going to this picnic, for the truth is, they haven't been invited."
"Not invited?" gasped Susy.