This made great fun, for they all knew he only went to the kitchen, but
he returned with a pail of "cold spring water," and then Mrs. Maynard
attended to the mixing of the lemonade.

The feast itself was found to include everything that had been asked for
beforehand.

Cold chicken, devilled eggs, sandwiches, lemon tarts, all were there,
besides lots of other good things.

They all pretended, of course, that they were really in the woods.

"How blue the sky is to-day," said Mr. Maynard, looking upward, as he
sat on a log, with a sandwich in one hand and a glass of lemonade in the
other.

As the ceiling was papered in a design of white and gold, it required
some imagination to follow his remark, but they were all equal to it.

"Yes," said Marjorie, gazing intently skyward; "it's a beeyootiful day.
But I see a slight cloud, as if it _might_ rain to-morrow."

"We need rain," said Mr. Maynard; "the country is drying up for the lack
of it."

As it was still pouring steadily, this was very funny, and of course
they all giggled.

Then King went on.

"The sun is so bright it hurts my eyes. I wish I had a pair of green
glasses to protect them."

"Or a parasol," said Gladys. "I'm sorry I left mine at home."

"What are we going to do at the picnic this afternoon, Father?" asked
Kitty.

"I thought we'd fly kites," said Mr. Maynard, "but there isn't a breath
of air stirring, so we can't."

The wind was blowing a perfect gale, so this made them all laugh again,
and Gladys said to Marjorie, "I do think your father is the _funniest_
man!"

At last the more substantial part of the luncheon was over, and it was
time for the ice-cream.

The freezer was brought right into the picnic ground, and Kingdon and
Dick were asked to dig the ice-cream out with a big wooden spoon, just
as they always did at picnics. The heaps of pink and white delight, on
fresh pasteboard plates, were passed around, and were eaten by those
surprising children with as much relish as if they hadn't just consumed
several basketsful of other things.

Then the candies were brought in, but, strange to say, nobody cared much
for any just then.

So Mrs. Maynard had the seven pretty fancy baskets, that they had
gathered nuts in, brought back, and each child was allowed to fill a
basket with the pretty candies.

These were set away until the picnic was over, when they were to be
taken home as souvenirs.

Luncheon over, Mr. Maynard decreed that t