Here Lord Ipsden, after a word to Lady Barbara, the answer to which did not appear to be favorable, rose, gave a little yawn, looked steadily at his companions without seeing them, and departed without seeming aware that he was leaving anybody behind him. _Hither._ “Let us go somewhere where we can quiz the natives without being too near them.” _Lady Bar._ “I am tired of this unbroken solitude, I must go and think to the sea,” added she, in a mock soliloquy; and out she glided with the same unconscious air as his lordship had worn. The others moved off slowly together. “Mamma,” said Miss Vere, “I can't understand half Barbara Sinclair says.” “It is not necessary, my love,” replied mamma; “she is rather eccentric, and I fear she is spoiling Lord Ipsden.” “Poor Lord Ipsden,” murmured the lovely Vere, “he used to be so nice, and do like everybody else. Mamma, I shall bring some work the next time.” “Do, my love.” PICNIC NO. 2. In a house, two hundred yards from this scene, a merry dance, succeeding a merry song, had ended, and they were in the midst of an interesting story; Christie Johnstone was the narrator. She had found the tale in one of the viscount's books--it had made a great impression on her. The rest were listening intently. In a room which had lately been all noise, not a sound was now to be heard but the narrator's voice. “Aweel, lasses, here are the three wee kists set, the lads are to chuse--the ane that chuses reicht is to get Porsha, an' the lave to get the bag, and dee baitchelars--Flucker Johnstone, you that's sae clever--are ye for gowd, or siller, or leed?” _1st Fishwife._ “Gowd for me!” _2d ditto._ “The white siller's my taste.” _Flucker._ “Na! there's aye some deevelish trick in thir lassie's stories. I shall ha to, till the ither lads hae chused; the mair part will put themsels oot, ane will hit it off reicht maybe, then I shall gie him a hidin' an' carry off the lass. You-hoo!” _Jean Carnie._ “That's you, Flucker.” _Christie Johnstone._ “And div ye really think we are gawn to let you see a' the world chuse? Na, lad, ye are putten oot o' the room, like witnesses.” _Flucker._ “Then I'd toss a penny; for gien ye trust to luck, she whiles favors ye, but gien ye commence to reason and argefy--ye're done!” _Christie._ “The suitors had na your wit, my manny, or maybe they had na a penny to toss, sae ane chused the gowd, ane the siller; but they got an awfu' affront. The gold kist had just a skull intil't, and the siller a deed cuddy's head!” _Chorus of Females._ “He! he! he!” _Ditto of Males._ “Haw! haw! haw! haw! Ho!” _Christie._ “An' Porsha puttit the pair of gowks to the door. Then came Bassanio, the lad fra Veeneece, that Porsha loed in secret. Veeneece, lasses, is a wonderful city; the streets o' 't are water, and the carriages are boats--that's in Chambers'.” _Flucker._ “Wha are ye making a fool o'?” _Christie._ “What's wrang?” _Flucker._ “Yon's just as big a lee as ever I heerd.”