loon carriages
engaged on the train, and lovely baskets of lunch, and Miss Lincoln lets
us buy toffee and chocolates if there are any shops. I wonder where we
shall go this year, and if it will be to the country or the seaside. Has
anyone heard?"

"Phyllis Chambers said she believed it was to be Moorcliffe," said
Winnie.

"Where's that?"

"It's a dear little seaside place near Chelstone. There's a nice sandy
shore, and Phyllis says she shouldn't be surprised if we were allowed
to take our costumes with us and bathe."

"Oh, how glorious! I do hope we shall."

"I believe it depends on the tide," said Winnie.

"Why on the tide? How absurd!"

"No, it's not absurd. The sea goes out very far at Moorcliffe, and
leaves a large sandy bay. You don't want to walk half a mile to the
water. If the tide's up in the morning, and we can get our dip then, it
will be quite right, because there will be time for our costumes to dry
afterwards in the sun; but if it's not high water till afternoon, we
shall have to do without our swim. It would be impossible to carry back
more than seventy dripping bathing-dresses."

"Unless we chartered a tank for them and put them in the luggage van,"
laughed Enid. "I hope the tide will be nice and accommodating. Hasn't
anybody got an almanac?"

"Miss Lincoln is planning it all out, and is to tell us on Saturday."

"I don't think it depends entirely on the tide," said Beatrice Wynne. "I
was talking to Miss Latimer, and she says she knows of a splendid pool
under the cliff, which is always quite deep enough to swim in at low
water. She's going to tell Miss Lincoln about it."

"If we don't arrange for Moorcliffe, we shall probably go to Bradley,
and look over the Castle," said Maggie Woodhall.

"I hope not," said Cissie Gardiner. "I've seen several castles, and
they're all alike. You walk on the battlements, and peep down the well,
which is half filled with rubbish and ferns, and an old woman unlocks
the dungeon, and shows you a rusty chain, and then you eat sandwiches in
the courtyard. I'd far rather go to the sea."

Cissie's wish was gratified, for on Saturday morning Miss Lincoln gave
the welcome announcement that she had decided the picnic should be at
Moorcliffe on the following Thursday, provided that the weather was
favourable, and that no unforeseen event occurred in the meantime.

"Miss Lincoln always puts in a warning note of that kind," said Enid. "I
wonder what she expects to ha