The bread served as plates, and the party were soon engaged upon their meal, laughing and talking over it as if it had been an ordinary picnic in the woods, though at times Vincent's face contracted from the sharp twitching of pain in his shoulder.

Vincent and Lucy first drank their tea, and the mugs were then handed to Dan and Chloe.
"This is great fun," Lucy said, "If it goes on like it all through our journey, we shall have no need to grumble.

Shall we, Chloe ?" "If you don't grumble, Miss Lucy, you may be quite sure dat Chloe will not.

But we hab not begun our journey at present; and I spec dat we shall find it pretty hard work before we get to de end.

But neber mind dat; anyting is better dan being all by ourselves in dat house.