Ned , being in college , of course put on all the airs which freshmen think it their bounden duty to assume . He was not very wise , but very good-natured , and altogether an excellent person to carry on a picnic . Sallie Gardiner was absorbed in keeping her white pique dress clean and chattering with the ubiquitous Fred , who kept Beth in constant terror by his pranks . It was not far to Longmeadow , but the tent was pitched and the wickets down by the time they arrived . A pleasant green field , with three wide-spreading oaks in the middle and a smooth strip of turf for croquet . `` Welcome to Camp Laurence ! '' said the young host , as they landed with exclamations of delight . `` Brooke is commander in chief , I am commissary general , the other fellows are staff officers , and you , ladies , are company . The tent is for your especial benefit and that oak is your drawing room , this is the messroom and the third is the camp kitchen . Now , let 's have a game before it gets hot , and then we 'll see about dinner . '' Frank , Beth , Amy , and Grace sat down to watch the game played by the other eight . Mr. Brooke chose Meg , Kate , and Fred . Laurie took Sallie , Jo , and Ned . The English played well , but the Americans played better , and contested every inch of the ground as strongly as if the spirit of '76 inspired them . Jo and Fred had several skirmishes and once narrowly escaped high words . Jo was through the last wicket and had missed the stroke , which failure ruffled her a good deal . Fred was close behind her and his turn came before hers . He gave a stroke , his ball hit the wicket , and stopped an inch on the wrong side . No one was very near , and running up to examine , he gave it a sly nudge with his toe , which put it just an inch on the right side . `` I 'm through !
Now , Miss XXXXX , I 'll settle you , and get in first , '' cried the young gentleman , swinging his mallet for another blow .
Americans Amy Gardiner Jo Kate Longmeadow Meg Ned messroom third