Next day eleven young people met at the appointed place,basket in hand.Ralph could not come till later,for he was working now as he never worked before.They were a merry flock,for the mellow autumn day was even brighter and clearer than yesterday,and the river looked its loveliest,winding away under the sombre hemlocks,or through the fairyland the gay woods made on either side.Two large boats and two small ones held them all,and away they went,first up through the three bridges and round the bend,then,turning,they floated down to the green island,where a grove of oaks rustled their sere leaves and the squirrels were still gathering acorns.Here they often met to keep their summer revels,and here they now spread their feast on the flat rock which needed no cloth beside its own gray lichens.The girls trimmed each dish with bright leaves,and made the supper look like a banquet for the elves,while the boys built a fire in the nook where ashes and blackened stones told of many a rustic meal.The big tin coffee-pot was not so romantic,but more successful than a kettle slung on three sticks,gypsy fashion;so they did not risk a downfall,but set the water boiling,and soon filled the air with the agreeable perfume associated in their minds with picnics,as most of them never tasted the fascinating stuff at any other time,being the worst children can drink.
Frank was cook,Gus helped cut bread and cake,Jack and Grif brought wood,while Bob Walker took Joe's place and made himself generally useful,as the other gentleman never did,and so was quite out of favor lately.
All was ready at last,and they were just deciding to sit down without Ralph,when a shout told them he was coming,and down the river skimmed a wherry at such a rate the boys wondered whom he had been racing with.
"Something has happened,and he is coming to tell us,"said Jill,who sat where she could see his eager face.
"Nothing bad,or he wouldn't smile so.He is glad of a good row and a little fun after working so hard all the week";and Merry shook a red napkin as a welcoming signal.
Something certainly had happened,and a very happy something it must be,they all thought,as Ralph came on with flashing oars,and leaping out as the boat touched the shore,ran up the slope,waving his hat,and calling in a glad voice,sure of sympathy in his delight,"Good news!good news!Hurrah for Rome,next month!"The young folks forgot their supper for a moment,to congratulate him on his happy prospect,and hear all about it,while the leaves rustled as if echoing the kind words,and the squirrels sat up aloft,wondering what all the pleasant clamor was about.
Yes,I'm really going in November.German asked me to go with him to-day,and if there is any little hitch in my getting off,he'll lend a hand,and I--I'll black his boots,wet his clay,and run his errands the rest of my life to pay for this!"cried Ralph,in a burst of gratitude;for,independent as he was,the kindness of this successful friend to a deserving comrade touched and won his heart.
"I call that a handsome thing to do!"said Frank,warmly,for noble actions always pleased him."I heard my mother say that ****** good or useful men was the best sort of sculpture,so I think David German may be proud of this piece of work,whether the big statue succeeds or not.""I'm very glad,old fellow,When I run over for my trip four years from now,I'll look you up,and see how you are getting on,"said Gus,with a hearty shake of the hand;and the younger lads grinned cheerfully,even while they wondered where the fun was in shaping clay and chipping marble.
"Shall you stay four years?"asked Merry's soft voice,while a wistful look came into her happy eyes.
"Ten,if I can,"answered Ralph,decidedly,feeling as if a long lifetime would be all too short for the immortal work he meant to do."I've got so much to learn,that I shall do whatever David thinks best for me at first,and when I can go alone,I shall just shut myself up and forget that there is any world outside my den.""Do write and tell us how you get on now and then;I like to hear about other people's good times while I'm waiting for my own,"said Molly,too much interested to observe that Grif was sticking burrs up and down her braids.
"Of course I shall write to some of you,but you mustn't expect any great things for years yet.People don't grow famous in a hurry,and it takes a deal of hard work even to earn your bread and butter,as you'll find if you ever try it,"answered Ralph,sobering down a little as he remembered the long and steady effort it had taken to get even so far.
"Speaking of bread and butter reminds me that we'd better eat ours before the coffee gets quite cold,"said Annette,for Merry seemed to have forgotten that she had been chosen to play matron,as she was the oldest.
The boys seconded the motion,and for a few minutes supper was the all-absorbing topic,as the cups went round and the goodies vanished rapidly,accompanied by the usual mishaps which make picnic meals such fun.Ralph's health was drunk with all sorts of good wishes;and such splendid prophecies were made,that he would have far surpassed Michael Angelo,if they could have come true.Grif gave him an order on the spot for a full-length statue of himself,and stood up to show the imposing attitude in which he wished to be taken,but unfortunately slipped and fell forward with one hand in the custard pie,the other clutching wildly at the coffee-pot,which inhospitably burnt his fingers.
"I think I grasp the idea,and will be sure to remember not to make your hair blow one way and the tails of your coat another,as a certain sculptor made those of a famous man,"laughed Ralph,as the fallen hero scrambled up,amidst general merriment.
"Will the little bust be done before you go?"asked Jill,anxiously,feeling a personal interest in the success of that order.