kindliness, and Tom, who was my class fellow, I had little
acquaintance with the family.

Had I been more warmly inclined towards them I would have gone up
to the door at once and asked for Tom, instead of sitting on the
dyke side with Rosson and waiting till he chose to come out to us.

As we sat there, however, Thora Kinlay came past us, driving before
her a hen and her brood of chickens, which she had found straying
along the cliffs, and of her we asked for Tom. She at once offered
to run to the house and bring him, but ultimately Robbie Rosson
went instead, with my terrier at his heels.

"How is it you are not at the fishing, Halcro?" inquired Thora when
we were alone. "I saw the schoolmaster away down at the Bush just
now as I came past. He seemed to be catching very little, though."

"Ah!" I said, "I doubt it's too clear a day for the trout. We're
off to Skaill Vie to see if we can catch a seal."

"That will be fine fun," said Thora, with a touch of envy in her
voice. "I wish I was going with you. Will you not take me?"

"Indeed," I returned, not unwilling that she should join us in our
sport, "I'd be real glad if you would come. But here's Tom, we'll
ask him."

Robbie and Tom approached across a plot of potatoes. Tom was eating
a huge piece of oatcake, and slashing, with a long stick he
carried, at the heads of the thistles that grew, all too