Laurence is looking up at the sky and the weathercock. I wish he would go too. How queer that he should come. I thought he was at the mountains. Hold up your dress and put your hat on straight, it looks sentimental tipped that way and will fly off at the first puff. Now then, come on! Laurie ran to meet and present them to his friends in the most cordial manner. The lawn was the reception room, and for several minutes a lively scene was enacted there. Laurence waving his hat on the shore. It broke the ice in the beginning by producing a laugh, it created quite a refreshing breeze, flapping to and fro as she rowed, and would make an excellent umbrella for the whole party, if a shower came up, she said. Brooke was a grave, silent young man, with handsome brown eyes and a pleasant voice. Meg liked his quiet manners and considered him a walking encyclopedia of useful knowledge. He never talked to her much, but he looked at her a good deal, and she felt sure that he did not regard her with aversion. Ned, being in college, of course put on all the airs which freshmen think it their bounden duty to assume. He was not very wise, but very goodnatured, and altogether an excellent person to carry on a picnic. A pleasant green field, with three widespreading oaks in the middle and a smooth strip of turf for croquet. The tent is for your especial benefit and that oak is your drawing room, this is the messroom and the third is the camp kitchen. Jo was through the last wicket and had missed the stroke, which failure ruffled her a good deal. Fred was close behind her and his turn came before hers.