too many
sandwiches," said the doctor cheerfully. "I'm sorry I can't stay to
see you off, but I'll hear all about the fun to-night. Try not to
go crazy, Auntie, before these Indians are safely out of the house."

As soon as he had gone, the girls began to "pack up" though the
motor trucks were not to leave the school grounds till half-past
nine. They were all dressed in white and each carried a sweater,
Sarah's red, Rosemary's blue and Shirley's apple green. Winnie had
made up a generous box of lunch for each, and three vacuum bottles,
a surprise from Doctor Hugh, were waiting them, filled with
lemonade.

"I think we'd better go early, Winnie," said Rosemary, "on account
of getting in the same truck. The earlier we are, the better chance
we have of getting seats together."

"Yes, it's always well to go early to any picnic," replied Winnie
wisely. "The fun can't begin till you start, so why delay?"

The motor trucks were drawn up before the school when the girls
reached the grounds and a group of boys and girls were standing
about them. They made a parade showing, being six in number and
gaily decorated with flags and bunting. There were two teachers
assigned to each truck and Rosemary was delighted to find that Miss
Parsons and her class teacher, Miss Penfield, were to be in charge
of one of the grammar school trucks.

"Why I don't see any reason why you and your sisters shouldn't be
together," Miss Penfield answered when Rosemary asked her about
Sarah and Shirley. "Hop in here, and you'll be placed and may not
have to move."

But just before the trucks were ready to start, Nina Edmonds and
Fannie Mears hurried up. They tried to climb into the truck where
Rosemary sat.

"Got my load now," said the driver promptly, but pleasantly. "You'll
have to go in the next car."

"That's full of primary kids--we don't belong in there with them,"
protested Fannie. "Oh, look, there are Sarah and Shirley
Willis--they can't go in this car, they belong in the primary
grades."

"Now Fannie, don't be disagreeable," begged Miss Penfield. "Rosemary
wants her younger sisters with her which is perfectly natural. It
won't hurt you to ride in one of the other trucks. Do it to be
obliging, if for no other reason."

"I'm sure Fannie doesn't want to be disobliging, Miss Penfield,"
said Nina smoothly, "but Mr. Oliver distinctly said there were two
trucks for the grammar grades and that we should not go out of our
assigned cars. Besid