However, the Duke’s boat fell away from its auspicious beginning that morning. When lunch time arrived, and both cobles landed at a part of the shore agreed upon, where there was a large rock for shelter, and a good ledge for a seat, Miss Carry had but the one fish to be taken out and placed on the grass, while her father had two—respectively seven and thirteen pounds. And very picturesque, indeed, it was to see those white gleaming creatures lying there; and the two boats drawn up on the shore, with the long rods out at the stern; and the gillies forming a group at some distance off under the shelter of the stone dyke; and the wide waters of the lake all a breezy blue in the cup of the encircling sunlit hills. Ronald got out the luncheon, for he had seen to the packing of it—and he knew more about table-napkins and things of that sort than those men; and then, when he had made everything right, and brought ashore a cushion for Miss Carry to sit upon, and so forth, he went away. ’Ronald,’ Mr. Hodson called to him, ’ain’t you going to have some lunch?’ ’Yes, sir.’ ’Come along, then; there’s plenty of room right here.’ ’Thank ye, sir; I know where they’ve put my little parcel,’ said he—and he went and sate down with the gillies; and soon there was enough talking and laughing amongst them—faintly heard across the wind. ’Well?’ said her father, when they were left alone. ’Oh, it’s just too delightful for anything.’ This was her summing up of the whole situation. And then she added— ’Pappa, may I send my salmon to Lily Selden?’ ’I wouldn’t call it kindness,’ said he. ’Looks more like boasting. And what’s the good, since she is staying at a hotel?’ ’Oh, she will be as glad as I am even to see it. But can’t they cook it at a hotel anyway? I want to be even with Lily about that balloon. I don’t see much myself in going up in a balloon. I would just like to have Lily here now—think she wouldn’t fall down and worship those beautiful creatures?’ ’Well, you may send her yours, if you like,’ her father said. ’But you needn’t dawdle so over your luncheon. These days are short; and I want to see what we can do on our first trial.’ ’I’m ready now, if it comes to that,’ said she placidly; and she put a couple of sweet biscuits in her pocket, to guard against emergency.