by the outspoken and hearty greeting that met her
ears.

"Bless yer bonnie face! If this aren't Mr. Sherrud's dochter, I'm mista'en!
What! dinna ye ken the auld farmer McDonald, that was seein' ye in Halifax?
Oh, I thocht ye'd ken me! An' whan did ye come owre?" and her hand was
grasped and given a hearty shake as she tried to answer his many questions,
for the pleasure of the meeting was easily read in the open countenance
before her.

"Weel, weel! but it's pleased I am to hae met ye the day, an' is yer
faither as smart as ever?" and seeing him glance towards Elsie she
remembered herself and introduced her friend.

"She is our next-door neighbor in Halifax," Dexie explained.

"An' ye are both owre for a visit? Weel, weel, an' ye never telt me ye were
comin' at a', at a'. But whaur are ye stayin', if I may ask?"

"At Mrs. Fremont's. I am here at Miss Gurney's invitation, and her friends
have been very kind to me. We have been here a little more than three
weeks."

"An' ye never sent me word! If I had kent ye were here, I wad hae sent doon
for ye afore."

"You are very kind, indeed, Mr. McDonald, but I am here with friends this
time, and I am afraid I cannot leave them."

"Hoot, noo! ye needna leave them; there's room at the farm for ye a'. Hoo
mony is there besides this ane?"

"One young man."

And catching sight of Lancy, a short distance away, she called his name and
he stepped at once to her side.

"This is Mr. Gurney, a brother to my friend here."

"Ay, ay; I remember him," greeting Lancy heartily. "An' hoo dae ye like the
look o' the Islan'?"

"Very much, indeed!" Lancy replied. "It is a fine place, and we have been
enjoying ourselves immensely."

"But ye haena been up oor way yet! If I'd only kent ye were here I wad hae
had ye up afore this," he repeated.

"Thank you kindly, Mr. McDonald, but we could hardly impose on your
good-nature as far as that."

"Impose, is't? Ma dear sir, it's prood an' happy we wad be to hae ye come
to see us. You maun gie me yer promise to come afore ye gang back to
Halifax. The gran'mother wad be sair hurt at no seein' ye. Whan could ye
come, noo?" turning to Dexie.

Just then Beatrice Fremont came towards them, and her smile of recognition
told Dexie that the farmer was well known to her.

"I did not know you were acquainted with my friends, Mr. McDonald," and she
extended her hand.

"I ken her faither weel, an' I met the dochter whan I was abroad," he
replied