custom-house people and the revenue cutter are
horrid--though the cutter is very pretty, and the officers look rather
nice in uniform. But it is very nice to get letters, Yaspard; and tea
is nice. Why, what on earth would Mam Kirsty and Aunt Osla do without
tea?" and Signy laughed as she looked up in her brother's face.

He was not unreasonable, and admitted the comfort of the cup which
cheers and a weekly mail-bag. He even allowed that the sloop which
looked after her Majesty's dues was a tidy little craft, and that a
kirk and Sunday service were advantages of no ordinary kind. "But,"
having admitted so much, he said, "why couldn't we have all that, and
still be Vikings? why not live like heroes? why not roam the seas, and
fight and discover and bring home spoil, and wear picturesque garments,
as well as go to church and drink tea?"

"Well, people _do_," answered Signy. "There is always somebody going
exploring and getting into the most terrible scrapes. And don't you
often say that the British people are true sons of the Norsemen, and
prove it by the way they are always sending out more and more ships,
and bringing home more and more riches. As for the fighting--oh dear!
There was Waterloo not so very very long ago; and the papers say, you
know, that we are going to fight the Russians very soon. There's
always plenty of fighting--if that's what makes a Viking."

"Oh, bother! girls don't understand," Yaspard muttered; and then there
was a long silence, which was broken at last by the lad clapping his
hands together and shouting, "Hurrah! I've got an idea! a splendid
idea! The very thing!" He sprang to his feet and tossed back his
golden-brown curls, and stood like a young Apollo all aglow with life
and ardour.

"You always look so beautiful, Yaspard, when you have an idea!" said
the worshipping little sister, gazing her admiration of the handsome
lad, who was the hero of all her dreams.

He laughed. He was accustomed to her homage--if the truth be told, he
took it as his right.

"Never mind about my beauty at present, but come along, for I must set
my idea to work at once. I wonder I never thought of it before."

"Ah, do wait a very little longer, brodhor," the girl begged. When
coaxing or caressing him, she always used the old form of the word,
which signified the dearest relationship she knew. They were orphans,
and "brother" was Signy's nearest as well as dearest friend alive. He
never could