Again everybody laughed. When grammar-school boys and girls are on a picnic, a thing needn't be very witty or very funny to make them laugh. From the ease with which this party exploded into laughter, it may be perceived that in spite of the high words and the pop-gun firing, there was no deep-seated ill-humor among them.
"To Crow Roost and be done with it!" said Dick.
"All right," assented several voices.
"Crow Roost, Bob, by the lightning express," said Dick, with enthusiasm.
"But, as you were so particular," said Sarah to Bob, "we're going to be, too. We aint going to give you any lunch unless you pay for it."
"Not a mouthful," said Clara.
"Not even a crumb," said Constance.
Nobody saw any dismay in Bob's face.
I don't intend to tell you about all the sayings and all the laughter of those boys and girls on their way to Crow Roost. They wouldn't like to have me, and you wouldn't. Bob Trotter ran over a good many grubs and way-side stumps, and at every jolt Constance screamed, and Dick scolded and then laughed. Mat Snead spoke three words. She and Valentine had been sitting as though in profound meditation for some forty minutes, when he said: "Quite a ride!"
"Very; no, quite," she answered, in confusion.