"How wise thou art, Sunna."

"I live with wisdom."

"With Adam Vedder?"

"Yes, and thou hast been living with Love, with Mr. Macrae. Very
handsome and good-natured he is. I am sure that thou art in love with
him! Is that not the case?"

"Very much in love with me he is, Sunna. It is a great happiness. I do
not weary of it, no, indeed! To believe in love, to feel it all around
you! It is wonderful! You know, Sunna--surely you know?"

"Yes, I, too, have been in love."

"With Boris--I know. And also Boris is in love with thee."

"That is wrong. No longer does Boris love me."

"But that is impossible. Love for one hour is love forever. He did
love thee, then he could not forget. Never could he forget."

"He did not notice me last night. Thou must have seen?"

"I did not notice--but I heard some talk about it. The first time thou
art alone with him, he will tell thee his trouble. It is only a little
cloud--it will pass."

"I suppose the enlisting ship sails northaway first?"

"Yes, to Lerwick, though they may stop at Fair Island on the way.
Boris says they could get many men there--and Boris knows."

"Art thou going to the pier to see them leave? I suppose every one
goes. Shall we go together?"

"Why, Sunna! They left this morning about four o'clock. Father went
down to the pier with Boris. Boris sailed with them."

"Thora! Thora! I thought Boris was to remain here until the naval
party returned from Shetland?"

"The lieutenant in command thought Boris could help the enlisting, for
in Lerwick Boris has many friends. Thou knows my sisters Anna and
Nenie live in Lerwick. Boris was fain to go and see them."

"But they will return here when their business is finished in
Lerwick?"

"They spoke of doing so, but mother is not believing they will return.
They took with them all the men enlisted here and the men are wanted
very much. Boris did not bid us a short 'good-bye.' Mother was crying,
and when he kissed me his tears wet my cheeks."

Sunna did not answer. For a few minutes she felt as if her heart had
suddenly died. At last she blundered out:

"I suppose the officer was afraid that--Boris might slip off while he
was away."

"Well, then, thou supposes what is wrong. When a fight is the
question, Boris needs no one either to watch him or to egg him on."

"Is that youngster, Macrae, going to join? Or has he already taken the
Queen's shilling? I think I heard such a report."

"No one could have told