Mrs. Ross lived down on the shore road and made a living for herself and her two children by washing and doing days ' work out . She was not a very cheerful person and generally spoke as if on the point of bursting into tears . She looked more doleful than ever today , and lost no time in explaining why . `` I 've just got word that my sister over at White Sands is sick with pendikis '' -- this was the nearest Mrs. Ross could get to appendicitis -- `` and has to go to the hospital . I 've got to go right over and see her , Mrs. Jackson , and I 've run in to ask if Ted can go and stay with Jimmy till I get back . There 's no one else I can get , and Amelia is away . I 'll be back this evening . I do n't like leaving Jimmy alone . '' `` Ted 's been promised that he could go to the picnic this afternoon , '' said Mrs. Jackson shortly . `` Mr. Jackson said he could go , so he 'll have to please himself . If he 's willing to stay with Jimmy instead , he can . I do n't care . '' `` Oh , I 've got to go to the picnic , '' cried Ted impulsively . `` I 'm awful sorry for Jimmy -- but I must go to the picnic . '' `` I s ` pose you feel so , '' said Mrs. Ross , sighing heavily . `` I dunno 's I blame you . Picnics is more cheerful than staying with a poor little lame boy , I do n't doubt . Well , I s ` pose I can put Jimmy 's supper on the table clost to him , and shut the cat in with him , and mebbe he 'll worry through . He was counting on having you to fiddle for him , though . Jimmy 's crazy about music , and he do n't never hear much of it .
Speaking XXXXX fiddling , there 's a great fiddler stopping at the hotel now .
If about by for in of on than that to