We did not wish our grown-ups around at our great moment , so we betook ourselves to the loft of the granary in the spruce wood , from whose window we could see the main road and hail Jerry . Sara Ray had joined us , very pale and nervous , having had , so it appeared , a difference of opinion with her mother about coming up the hill in the rain . `` I 'm afraid I did very wrong to come against ma 's will , '' she said miserably , `` but I COULD N'T wait . I wanted to see the picture as soon as you did . '' We waited and watched at the window . The valley was full of mist , and the rain was coming down in slanting lines over the tops of the spruces . But as we waited the clouds broke away and the sun came out flashingly ; the drops on the spruce boughs glittered like diamonds . `` I do n't believe Jerry can be coming , '' said Cecily in despair . `` I suppose his mother must have thought it was dreadful , after all , to sell such a picture . '' `` There he is now ! '' cried Dan , waving excitedly from the window . `` He 's carrying a fish-basket , '' said Felicity . `` You surely do n't suppose he would bring THAT picture in a fish-basket ! '' Jerry HAD brought it in a fish-basket , as appeared when he mounted the granary stairs shortly afterwards . It was folded up in a newspaper packet on top of the dried herring with which the basket was filled . We paid him his money , but we would not open the packet until he had gone . `` Cecily , '' said Felicity in a hushed tone . `` You are the best of us all . YOU open the parcel . '' `` Oh , I 'm no gooder than the rest of you , '' breathed Cecily , `` but I 'll open it if you like . ''
With trembling fingers XXXXX opened the parcel .
Cecily Dan Felicity Jerry Ray fish-basket grown-ups money rest spruces