Ha' at Blaesound, and a strawberry tea in
the Ha' garden. Fred and his mother were very anxious to draw Yaspard
within the circle of their best affections, but they knew they must be
careful not to touch Mr. Adiesen's weak points in extending the hand of
friendship to his nephew. He would, as likely as not, resent their
well-meant intentions if they invited the boy to their house, but a
picnic under Dr. Holtum's auspices to the neighbourhood of the Ha' was
different.

Any of us who remember the recorded adventures of the Lads of Lunda and
the Yarl of Burra Isle, will know with what perfect success
entertainments of the sort were conducted by the Garsons or any of
their friends. There seldom had been a day more happily spent by those
young folks than _that_ day, and each and all combined to make it a
period of unclouded bliss to Yaspard and Signy.

They revelled in the society of so many charming girls and fine boys,
and thought that life could need nothing more than the pleasure such
companionship afforded. How they enjoyed the scramble up the gill, the
fun bubbling up constantly, the manner in which the fathers and mothers
shared in the children's play; the running and singing and laughter;
the dainty meal of cake and chicken and strawberries with rich cream,
dispensed--after a very un-English but wholly satisfactory manner--in
heaped platefuls! The scent of flowers, the sunshine and universal
hilarity, cast a spell over Signy, and she sat on the garden turf
eating her strawberries without speaking for some time, but radiant
with happiness.

"Are you dreaming, or composing an ode, little lady?" Fred asked her,
after having watched the soft play of her expressive features for some
minutes.

"I was--thinking, and I never enjoyed anything so much before;
but"--and she looked up wistfully--"I was wishing too that there had
never been any feud, and that Uncle Brues could see for himself how good
you all are. _I wish he could!_"

"I hope he will before long. I think, now the ice is broken, that it
will all come right, little one."

I ought to have mentioned before that the Harrison boys had gone with
Gloy to see his mother, and had been directed to return in their own
boat to Boden before night; so when the Holtums, with their guest and
the Viking, returned to Collaster at dayset, they were just in time to
see James Harrison's boat disappear round the Head of Collaster.

"I am so glad," said Yaspard, "that u