"I can go perfectly well," said Mrs. Thayne. "Only there is
Roger's appointment with the dentist in the afternoon. He'll have
to keep that, but there will be plenty of time for the picnic if
we start early."

"Think of having an outdoor picnic in December," exclaimed
Frances. "We'll take Edith, of course."

"Of course," assented her mother. "And Estelle, if she will go. I
wish she would. She shuts herself up so closely and seems to
shrink from seeing people, but perhaps she will go to Orgueil just
with us."

Even Edith could not persuade her sister to join the party though
Estelle was touched by their regret, evidently genuine.

"If you only would, Star," begged Edith. "You would enjoy it. You
don't know how funny and nice they are to go with."

"I couldn't, little sister," said Estelle gently. "You go and tell
me about it afterwards."

Edith was not satisfied but all persuasion proved useless. She had
a vague idea that Star was worried. Just why, Edith did not see,
since the plan of letting lodgings had come out so pleasantly.
Everything was going smoothly at present; why should Star borrow
trouble from the future?

Mont Orgueil is reached by a miniature railway leading from St.