I knew him well when he was a child -- I was nurse in his father 's family . He was a taking little chap , and I was real fond of him . Well , I must be getting . Jimmy 'll feel bad at staying alone , but I 'll tell him he 'll just have to put up with it . '' Mrs. Ross sighed herself away , and Ted flew up to his garret corner with a choking in his throat . He could n't go to stay with Jimmy -- he could n't give up the picnic ! Why , he had never been at a picnic ; and they were going to drive to the hotel beach in wagons , and have swings , and games , and ice cream , and a boat sail to Curtain Island ! He had been looking forward to it , waking and dreaming , for a fortnight . He must go . But poor little Jimmy ! It was too bad for him to be left all alone . `` I would n't like it myself , '' said Ted miserably , trying to swallow a lump that persisted in coming up in his throat . `` It must be dreadful to have to lie on the sofa all the time and never be able to run , climb trees or play , or do a single thing . And Jimmy does n't like reading much . He 'll be dreadful lonesome . I 'll be thinking of him all the time at the picnic -- I know I will . I suppose I could go and stay with him , if I just made up my mind to it . '' Making up his mind to it was a slow and difficult process . But when Ted was finally dressed in his shabby , `` skimpy '' Sunday best , he tucked his precious fiddle under his arm and slipped downstairs . `` Please , I think I 'll go and stay with Jimmy , '' he said to Mrs. Jackson timidly , as he always spoke to her .
`` Well , if you 're to waste the afternoon , I s ` pose it 's better to waste it that way than in going to a picnic and eating yourself sick , '' was Mrs. XXXXX 's ungracious response .
Jackson Jimmy Ross Ted choking family fortnight garret left picnic