g most careful the while not to leave untidy
drippings.

Cocoanut balls were made, and nougat, which was cut into cubes, and
lovely, flat peanut sugar cakes.

The boys did all these things quite as well as the girls, and all,
except Rosy Posy, worked with a will and really accomplished wonders.

Each was allowed to eat five finished candies of any sort and at any
time they chose, but they were on their honor not to eat more than five.

"Oh," sighed Marjorie, as she looked at the shining rows of goodies on
plates and tins, "I'd like to eat a hundred!"

"You wouldn't want any luncheon, then," said her father. "And as it's
now noon, and as our candies are all done, I suggest that you all
scamper away to some place where soap and water grow wild, and return as
soon as possible, all tidy and neat for our picnic luncheon."

"Lunch time!" cried Gladys, in surprise. "It can't be! Why, we've only
been here a little while."

But it was half-past twelve, and for the first time that whole morning
the children looked out of the windows.

"It's still raining," said King, "and I'm glad of it. We're having more
fun than at an outdoor picnic, _I_ think."

"So do I!" cried all the others, as they ran away upstairs.

Shortly after, seven very spick-and-span-looking children presented
themselves in the lower hall. Curls had been brushed, hair-ribbons
freshly tied, and even Boffin had a new blue ribbon round his neck.

"Now for the real picnic!" cried Mr. Maynard, as he led the way into the
living-room.

As Marjorie entered, she gave a shriek of delight, and turned to rush
into her father's arms.

"Oh, Daddy!" she cried. "You do beat the Dutch! What a lovely picnic!
It's a million times better than going to the woods!"

"Especially on a day like this," said her father.

The others, too, gave exclamations of joy, and indeed that was small
wonder.

The whole room had _almost_ been turned into a woodland glen.

On the floor were spread some old green muslin curtains that had once
been used for private theatricals or something.

Round the walls stood all the palms and ferns and plants that belonged
in other parts of the house, and these were enough to give quite an
outdoorsy look to the place.

To add to this, great branches of leaves were thrust behind sofas or
tables. Some leaves were green and some had already turned to autumn
tints, so it was almost like a real wood.

Chairs and tables had been taken away, and to si