Thursday morning broke fair as eye could see.  The September sun rose in a haze of warm rays; promising, as Mrs. Randolph said, that the heat would be stifling by and by.  Daisy did not care, for her part.  They had breakfast earlier than usual; for the plan was to get on the other side of the river before the sun should be too oppressive.  They had scarcely risen from the table when the Sandford party drove up to the door.  These were to go in a boat with the party from Melbourne House.  Mr. and Mrs. Fish, from higher up the river, were to cross in their own boat and join the rest at the spot appointed on the opposite shore.  The Stanfields were to do the same, starting from a different point; friends having arrived that would swell their numbers beyond the original four.  Of all this, Daisy cared just for one thing; that Nora was come and was to go in the boat with her, and no other.  The meeting between the two children, on the steps of Melbourne, was most joyous.

“O Nora!  I’m so glad you have come!”—­and, “O Daisy!  I’m so glad to be here!”—­and a small host of small questions and answers, that indeed meant a great deal, but would not read for much.

“O Nora, isn’t it nice!” said Daisy, as they stood on the steps, while the carriages waited, below before the door.

“It’s grand,” said Nora.  “Why aunt Frances says we shall be gone all day.”

“To be sure we shall,” said Daisy.  “Papa is going to fish; and so is Preston, and Dr. Sandford and other people, I suppose; and some of the men take their tackle along too.  There is nice fish in the Lake.”

“What men do you mean?” said Nora.

“O, the men that manage the boat and carry the baskets; there are ever so many baskets to go, you know; and the men must carry them; because the path won’t let a wagon go.”

“Who is going to carry you?” said Dr. Sandford coming out behind them.

“Me?” said Daisy.

“Yes.”

“Why I do not want anybody to carry me, Dr. Sandford.”

“Don’t you?  I do.  And I shall want two men to do it.  Whom will you have?  I have arranged a mountain chair for you, Daisy.”

“A chair!” said Daisy.  How could that be?  And then she saw in Dr. Sandford’s wagon, a chair to be sure; a common, light, cane-bottomed arm-chair; with poles sticking out before and behind it very oddly.  She looked up at the doctor, and Nora demanded what that was?

“Something like the chairs they use in the mountains of Switzerland, to carry ladies up and down.”

“To carry me?” said Daisy.

“For that purpose.  Now see whom you will have to do it.”

Daisy and Nora ran away together to consult her father.  The matter was soon arranged.  James the footman, and Michael the coachman, were to go to carry baskets and help manage the boat; James being something of a sailor.  Now Logan and Sam were pressed into the service; the latter to take James’s business, as porter, and leave the latter free to be a chair-bearer.