nd them, gazing at her as if she really had
been a fairy princess. "Do come to me; I am your sister now, don't you
know?"

But they only drew back, and as she started toward them, scampered away
and hid behind their mother.

"Come, Hughie," said the little lady, "let us go down to the burn. You
must make me a wreath like Lilly's, and play with me just as you do
with her, won't you?"

Hughie gladly promised, and away they went hand in hand. But the lad
could not quite forget that his playmate was the Honorable Miss Bertha
Blantyre, so he took the choicest roses from his mother's garden to
make a wreath for her, and for the life of him he could not be as free
and merry with her as with his sister. However, he was very kind and
amusing, and Bertha was in high glee. The first thing she did when
they reached the burnside, was to sit down and pull off her shoes and
stockings, then she ran up and down the sandy shore of the loch,
throwing pebbles and daisies into the water, sailing Lilly's little
boat, and laughing and singing like some wild creature. Then she
helped Hughie at his dam awhile, patting the soft clay with her dainty
little hands.

"O dear!" she exclaimed at last.

"What's the matter, my bonnie leddie?" said Hughie, rather
patronizingly.

"My feet smart so! See how big and red they look."

"Sae they do. You hae burned them. The sun is hot this simmer day,
and the sand as weel, and ye ken (know) ye are no used to gang without
your shoon (shoes); wade a bit, noo, and cool your small saft feet."

Bertha thrust one foot into the water, but drew it out instantly,
exclaiming, "Ugh, how cold!"

"Ay, gin (if) ye only dip the tips o' your toes, like a fearsome cat;
but gin ye rin bravely intil the water, like a spaniel dog, ye'll no
find it cauld," said Hughie, taking her hand and leading her in. But
Bertha still thought it cold; she caught her breath, and shrieked at
every step, frightened not only at the rising water, but at the tiny
fishes within it, and even at the insects skimming along its surface.
As Hughie was leading her out, she trod on a stone and cut one of her
delicate feet quite severely. Then, when she reached the shore, she
found that she could not get on her stockings and shoes, and with her
eyes full of tears she said, "Ah me! what shall I do? I can't walk
barefoot among the heather, my feet are so sore already."

[Illustration: Hughie and Bertha]

"O, dinna fash yoursel' (don't