Each wore a large, flapping hat, a brown linen pouch slung over one shoulder, and carried a long staff.

Meg had a cushion, Jo a book, Beth a basket, and Amy a portfolio.

All walked quietly through the garden, out at the little back gate, and began to climb the hill that lay between the house and river.
"Well, that's cool," said Laurie to himself, "to have a picnic and never ask me! They can't be going in the boat, for they haven't got the key.

Perhaps they forgot it.

I'll take it to them, and see what's going on." Though possessed of half a dozen hats, it took him some time to find one, then there was a hunt for the key, which was at last discovered in his pocket, so that the girls were quite out of sight when he leaped the fence and ran after them.