Olivia by Charles Garvice

As a rule it is only necessary to arrange a picnic to insure a wet day; but the day of Mr. Bradstone's picnic proved an exception, and the morning was as clear and bright, and almost as warm, as a spring day in the sunny south.

Mr. Bradstone had bestowed a great deal of thought on this little outing which he had planned for Olivia's amusement -- and his own advantage, of course -- and when, but only the day before, she consented, in response to the squire's pressure, to join the party, Mr. Bradstone redoubled his exertions.