Kitty's Picnic and other Stories (Illustrated)

It was a fine spring morning, and Kitty sat at the window looking out at the green fields and the trees with their young leaves, and far, far beyond these to some towers that looked small in the distance, but when you came close to them you found that they belonged to a grand old castle in ruins.
This castle Kitty had long wished to see, for she had heard so much about it; and to-day she was thinking very much about it, for she knew that there was going to be a great picnic, to which her cousins were going, and Kitty wished she were going also, but she had not been invited. As she gazed out of the window she saw several carriages full of people on their way to the picnic. Then the tears came into Kitty's eyes, and she dropped the book she was holding in her hand, and opened the window so that she might see the carriages more clearly. They were going very quickly, and Kitty could hear the people laughing and talking as she watched them out of sight.
She gave a great sigh.
'How much I should like to go!' she said, half aloud.
Just then the door opened, and her Uncle George walked into the room.
'Why, Uncle George, where have you come from?' said Kitty, jumping up. 'I thought you were not coming home till next week.'
'I came home last night,' said Uncle George, 'but I did not expect to find you here. I thought you would be going to the picnic.'
'I should like to go,' said Kitty, 'but I was not invited. I do not know Mrs. Somers.'
'Neither do I,' said Uncle George; 'but suppose we have a little picnic of our own, Kitty? I have got my dog-cart at the door, and there is room in the castle grounds for a dozen picnic parties; and we should not take up much room.'
Kitty clapped her hands.
'Put on your hat, then, and we will go,' said Uncle George. 'My little Kitty shall see the castle, and climb the ruins.'
'Oh, Uncle George, how good you are!' said Kitty, as they drove along. 'I never thought I should be so happy as I am to-day.'
'But, Kitty,' said Uncle George very gravely, 'I am afraid it can't be quite a picnic, for we have brought nothing to eat with us. What shall we do?'
'I shan't mind,' said Kitty; 'but I am afraid that you will be hungry, Uncle George.'
Uncle George smiled.
'Well, we won't be starved, Kitty; there is a nice little country inn close by, where I put up my horse, and I daresay we shall manage to get something there.'
And so they did; and Kitty saw the old castle, and when she drove home she said it was the happiest day she had ever spent.

Kitty's Picnic and other Stories (Illustrated)