“The furniture is all up garret,” said Amanda.  “All I’ve sent down was their clothes.  Mis’ Field had me pack ’em up in their two trunks, an’ send ’em down to Lois.  I didn’t see why she didn’t have me mark ’em to her.”

“I should think it was kind of queer,” said Mrs. Green.  “Now s’pose we go, what had we better carry for clothes?  We don’t need no trunk.”

“Of course we don’t,” said Mrs. Babcock promptly.  “We can each carry a bag.  We ain’t going to need much.”

“I guess, if I went,” said Amanda, “that I should carry this sacque to slip on, if it’s as hot weather as ’tis now.  I should have to do it up, but that ain’t much work.”

Mrs. Babcock eyed it.  “Well, I dunno,” said she; “it’s pretty long in the shoulders seams.  I dunno how much they dress down there where Mis’ Field lives.  Mebbe ’twould do.”

“There’s one thing I’ve been thinkin’ about,” Mrs. Green said, with an anxious air.  “If we go down on that early train, an’ stay all day in Boston, we shall have to buy us something to eat; we should get dreadful faint before we got out to Mis’ Field’s, and things are dreadful high in those places.”

“Oh, land!” cried Mrs. Babcock in a superior tone.  “All we’ve got to do is to carry some luncheon with us.  I’ll make some pies, and you can bake some cookies, an’ then we’ll set down in Boston Common an’ eat it.  That’s the way lots of folks do.  That ain’t nothin’ to worry about.  Well, now, I think it’s about time for us to decide whether or no we’re goin’.  I’ve got to go home an’ git supper.”

“I’ll do jest as the rest say,” said Mrs. Green.  “I s’pose I can go.  I s’pose father’ll say I’d better.  An’ Abby she was all for it, when I spoke about it to her.  She thinks she can have the Fay girl over to stay with her, an’ she wants me to buy her a dress in Boston, instead of gettin’ it here.”

“Well,” said Amanda, with a sigh—­she was quite pale—­“I’ll think of it.”

“We’ve got to make up our minds,” said Mrs. Babcock sharply.  “There ain’t time for much thinkin’.  The excursion starts a day after to-morrow.”

“I’ll have my mind made up to-morrow mornin’,” said Amanda.  “I’ve got to think of it over-night, anyhow.  I can’t start right up an’ say I’ll go, without a minute to think about it.”  Her voice trembled nervously, but decision underlay it.

“I don’t see why it ain’t time enough if we decide to-morrow morning.  I’d ruther like to think of it a little while longer,” said Mrs. Green.

Mrs. Babcock got up.  “Well,” said she, “I’ll send Adoniram round to-morrow mornin’, an’ you tell him what you’ve decided.  I guess I shall go whether or no.  I’ve got three men folks to leave, an’ it’s a good deal more of an undertakin’ for me than some, but I ain’t easy scart.  I b’lieve in goin’ once in a while.”

“Well, I’ll let you know in the mornin’.  I jest want to think of it over-night,” repeated Amanda, with dignified apology.