Mary Jane liked doing things with her jolly grandfather, so she skipped out happily and found him in the barn.

“Pick out some frys, should we?” he said.  “All right, that suits me, only we’ll fool her, Mary Jane; we’ll get three!  I believe in having enough, I do.”

“What we going to do to-morrow, Pussy?” he asked when that job was done.

“Why, we’re going to get Mother and Father at the train and then we’re coming home.”

“Oh, yes, I know that,” said Grandfather, “but let’s do more than that.  Let’s have a picnic to celebrate their coming.”

“Oh, Grandfather!” exclaimed Mary Jane, “could we?”

“We certainly could,” said Grandfather, “and I think it would be a fine thing to do.  There’s a full moon and we could go about four and come home by moonlight.  Let’s see what your grandmother and Alice think about it.”

Grandmother and Alice were enthusiastic.  “I can take my cake!” exclaimed Alice eagerly.  “It’s a beautiful cake, Grandfather, see?” she said proudly.  “It’s all done but the frosting and I’m going to put that on as soon as it’s cool enough.”

“Looks good enough to eat,” said Grandfather admiringly, “and I’m sure it will be fine to-morrow.”

“And I can take my frys,” said Grandmother, planning; “your father loves cold fried chicken, girls,” she added, “and maybe your mother will make a bowl of her fine salad to-morrow while I make a custard—­yes, Father, that’s just what we’ll do.  We’ll have a picnic.  Where’ll we go?”

“To Flatrock,” replied Grandfather, who had decided that point long ago, “and you needn’t plan too much fixyness because Mary Jane and I have a surprise.”

“Oh, goody!” cried Mary Jane.  “What is it?” Everybody laughed at that and Grandfather took the little girl out to the garden to show her what the secret was.  But they didn’t tell anybody else what it was—­I should say not!

It was lucky there was plenty to do that day, and many interesting things to plan for the picnic; for, even so, Mary Jane thought the day would never end—­never.  She hadn’t realized she was so anxious to see her mother till she knew the long separation was so nearly over.

“To-morrow I’ll see my mother!  To-morrow I’ll see my mother!  To-morrow I’ll see my mother!” she whispered over and over to herself as she went to sleep, and she thought it was the best news she ever told herself.

She was awake and up the first of any one in the house the next morning, and long before Grandfather was ready to start she was out sitting in the automobile.

“Look who thinks she’s going to the station!” exclaimed Grandfather.  “’Fraid you can’t go this time, Pussy; there won’t be room.”

“Oh, Grandfather!” exclaimed Mary Jane over the big lump that suddenly came into her throat, “I must go to see my mother!” And then she looked at her grandfather and saw the twinkle in his eye.  “You’re just teasing, aren’t you, Grandfather?” she added anxiously.