old man's brow at mention of the Mitchells cleared up more rapidly
than Fred had dared to hope for.

"I don't know how we should get along without Dr. Holtum--we young
ones, I mean," he remarked. "He enters so much into all our fun, and
then he is so very clever too, a first-rate scientist. They have a
'menagerie,' as large and interesting as your own, at Collaster. And
the twins--they are a little older than your lovely little niece, but
she would find them companionable, for she is older than her years, I
think. I suppose it will be with her as it is with Yaspard in some
respects?"

"Signy is quite contented without girls' society, and she can never
become either eccentric or foolish," Mr. Adiesen said hurriedly; but
all the same he suddenly had a vision of his pet growing up to be
peculiar, and an old maid perhaps resembling Aunt Osla, or some other
of the many spinster ladies whose insular life had doomed them to that
fate.

"My sister Isobel and I," said Fred, "always feel that we are more
fortunate than the greater number of Lairds' families in having so many
companions in our island. It has been desperately good for me, I know,
to have such clever chaps as Eric Mitchell and Svein Holtum for my
chums."

"And your sister? Dr. Holtum's girls are younger?"

"Yes, and Isobel suffers in consequence. We all make a great fuss over
Isobel, and she thinks a little too much of her own consequence. But
still she has advantages--from the society of ladies, for
instance--which your Signy cannot have."

The entrance of Signy herself put a stop to the conversation, but Fred
was satisfied that he had sown good seed which would produce the right
kind of fruit by-and-by. When he left Boden his heart was light within
him. He took Mr. Adiesen's insolent note from his pocket and tore it
to bits, scattering them on the sea, and saying within himself, "A soft
answer turneth away wrath;" then to Yaspard he said, "Now, Sir Viking,
for _your_ letter. You want the answer, don't you?"

CHAPTER XI.

"FAIR FELLOW DEEM I THE DARK-WINGED RAVEN."

Yaspard and Fred were alone in the boat. There was a pleasant breeze
blowing fair, and Yaspard had preferred taking his passenger himself,
leaving the Harrisons to entertain Gloy at Noostigard. Thus the
conversation between the two could be as confidential as they pleased.

"I wonder," said Fred, "if you know that it was your letter that
brought me to Boden?"

The Viki