“But you have not told us yet where we are going,” said Jane.
“Oh, I forgot. Madge and her party will meet us at West End Lane Station, and we will take the 9.20 train to Richmond; catch the one that goes on to Twickenham, row to Teddington, land on the bank and have lunch, and have tea at the cottage I spoke of.”
“Just the very thing to brush the cobwebs out of our brains,” cried Ada enthusiastically, “is it not, Jenny? We all want a treat, and we are all rather fagged out. Is it to be this next Saturday?”
“Yes, if we can arrange it in time.”
“Well, there is very little to arrange, when one comes to think of it,” said Ada meditatively, “unless Mrs. Holden thinks of inviting a big party.”
“No, just themselves and ourselves.”
“Did she say what part of the lunch she would prefer to bring?”
“She suggested the meat and also the drinks.”
“Ah!” laughed Jane, “she thinks it wise to ensure something solid for her husband and brother! And we are to bring the sweets, and so on? Then do have a tomato salad; it is the most delightfully cooling thing you can have on a hot day.”
“My good girl, how in the world can we pack it? I suppose you mean to take the tomatoes and make it as it is wanted; but that is rather a nuisance. My experience of water-parties is that you never land for lunch until you are so famished that to make a salad is the last thing anyone wishes, and any materials of that sort are thankfully despatched in the raw!”