. At last the time comes for people to start, and they all drive
home again. I went with granny to a picnic like that last year, and she
enjoyed it very much, and I am sure I did."

"You have given a very good description of what, I daresay, our proposed
picnic will be like," said Mrs Maclean; "and I hope you will enjoy it
as much as you did yours last year. I have no doubt there will be a
piper, and, perhaps, two or three, and that they will do their best to
make the hills resound with their music."

"I think it will be very stupid if we do nothing else than that," said
Norman. "It might be better if we could shoot or fish, or if there is a
boat in which the other boys and I can row about."

"I daresay our friends will try to find amusement for you little boys as
well as for the older persons of the party, though, if you wish it, we
might possibly make arrangements to leave you behind," observed Mrs
Maclean.

"No, no, I should not like that," answered Norman, shaking his head. "I
will go to see what is done."

Mrs Maclean smiled at the young gentleman's answer.

The rest of the party soon entered the breakfast-room. Captain Vallery
came last. Fanny jumped up to throw her arms round his neck and kiss
him; but Norman did not leave his seat; he had been looking out for the
presents of which his papa had spoken. He was much disappointed when he
saw him deposit two small parcels on the sideboard.

"We will look at them after prayers," he observed.

Mr Maclean kept to the good custom of having all the servants in to
morning prayers, and reading to them from God's Word. Norman attended
very little to what was said, as he was wondering all the time what
could be in the parcels.

"I wish they had been bigger," he thought, "for I am afraid papa has,
after all, brought some stupid little things which I shall not care
about, and perhaps Fanny's will be better than mine."

The patience of Norman was still further to be tried, for his papa, who
was hungry, forgot all about the presents, and took his seat with the
rest of the party at the breakfast table.

"Come, my boy, eat your porridge, or it will begetting cold," said Mr
Maclean, lifting Norman into the air, and placing him down in the chair
as if he had been a little baby.

Norman felt indignant, as he liked to be treated as a big boy. He was,
however, in spite of his curiosity, glad to swallow his porridge, and to
eat some bacon, with a slice or two of b