only know where the areas of rain were
to be they might go to the others. Mr. Peterkin proposed walking round
the house in a procession, to examine the sky. As they returned they
met Ann Maria Bromwick, who was to go, much surprised not to find them
ready.

Mr. and Mrs. Peterkin were to go in the carryall, and take up the lady
from Philadelphia, and Ann Maria, with the rest, was to follow in a
wagon, and to stop for the daughters of the lady from Philadelphia.
The wagon arrived, and so Mr. Peterkin had the horse put into the
carryall.

A basket had been kept on the back piazza for some days, where anybody
could put anything that would be needed for the picnic as soon as it
was thought of. Agamemnon had already decided to take a thermometer;
somebody was always complaining of being too hot or too cold at a
picnic, and it would be a great convenience to see if she really were
so. He thought now he might take a barometer, as "Probabilities" was
so uncertain. Then, if it went down in a threatening way, they could
all come back.

[Illustration]

The little boys had tied their kites to the basket. They had never
tried them at home; it might be a good chance on the hills. Solomon
John had put in some fishing-poles; Elizabeth Eliza, a book of poetry.
Mr. Peterkin did not like sitting on the ground, and proposed taking
two chairs, one for himself and one for anybody else. The little boys
were perfectly happy; they jumped in and out of the wagon a dozen
times, with new india-rubber boots, bought for the occasion.

[Illustration]

Before they started, Mrs. Peterkin began to think she had already had
enough of the picnic, what with going and coming, and trying to
remember things. So many mistakes were made. The things that were to
go in the wagon were put in the carryall, and the things in the
carryall had to be taken out for the wagon! Elizabeth Eliza forgot her
water-proof, and had to go back for her veil, and Mr. Peterkin came
near forgetting his umbrella.

Mrs. Peterkin sat on the piazza and tried to think. She felt as if she
must have forgotten something; she knew she must. Why could not she
think of it now, before it was too late? It seems hard any day to
think what to have for dinner, but how much easier now it would be to
stay at home quietly and order the dinner,--and there was the
butcher's cart! But now they must think of everything.

At last she was put into the carryall, and Mr. Peterkin in front to
drive.