n spiritually
related? There was some tie of which flesh and blood knew not between
them.

"Michael, I am going to be married."

"Well, Jan--and what then?"

"It will be with me as others; I shall have children, and grow rich,
and old, and die."

"Who is it, Jan?"

"Margaret Fae."

"I thought that. Well, thou art sunshine, Jan, and she is like a pool
of clear water. If the sun shines not, then the water will freeze, and
grow cold and hard."

"Thou dost not like women, Michael."

"Nay, but I trust them not. Where the devil can not go, he sends a
woman. Well, then, he will find no such messenger for me. He must come
himself. That is well; the fight will be easier."

"When I am married I shall sail my own boat, and thou shalt be always
with me, Michael. We will feel the fresh wind blowing in the canvas,
and the salt spindrift in our faces, and the boat going as if she were
a solan flying for the rock."

"Is that thy thought, then? Let me tell thee that thou art counting
thy fish while they are swimming. Until Peter Fae's hands are full of
earth, he will not part with one gold piece. Make up thy mind to
that."

"Margaret will have her tocher."

"That will be seen; but if thou wants money, Jan, there it is in my
chest, and what greater joy can I have than to see it in thy hand--all
of it? It would be thy grace to me."

Then Jan rose up and laid his arm across Michael's shoulder; and
Michael's lifted face caught the glow of Jan's bending one and the
men's souls spoke to each other, though their lips never parted.

The next day proved Michael right. Peter did not name Margaret's
tocher. He said he would give Margaret a house with all needful
plenishing; and he promised also to pay all the wedding expenses. But
there was no word of any sum of ready money; and Jan was too proud in
his poverty to ask for his right. He did, indeed, suggest that when he
was a house-holder he should have more wages. But Peter would not see
the justice of any such addition. "I give thee all thou art worth, and
I will not give thee a Scotch merk more," he answered roughly. "When
it comes to a question of wage, Jan, the son and the stranger are the
same to me." And when Jan told his friend what had been promised,
Michael said only: "Well, then, thou wilt have the woman also."

The twelfth of August is "the fisherman's foy" in Shetland, and the
great feast of the Islands. It was agreed, therefore, that the
marriage should take plac