“Oh, get out,” said Betty; “that’s the way such shallow pates takes the life out of things. Dost think I should iver have cried over such stuff as that? Why, that is as flat as ditch-water; there’s nothing cutting in it. Oh! but th’ owd song _is_ cutting! It goes to the quick; it goes through bone and marrow. It makes cowd water seem to run down my back when I sing it sometimes o’er my house-work.” Thorsby laughed, and Betty cast a most disdainful look at him. “Here’s a man, now,” she said, “who goes walking with a stick and a dog, like a gentleman, and knows no better nor that! But I’ll fit thee, young man, I will!” And here we may antedate our story to say that Betty did not forget to do it. The next morning when the family came downstairs at Woodburn Grange, where Thorsby stayed all night, they were all edified by seeing pinned up conspicuously on the staircase a memorandum of his which Betty had found—“To remember not to forget to send my trousers to be mended, ditto, boots.” Thorsby came the last of all into the breakfast-room, looking very hot, but when the next person went upstairs, the memorandum had disappeared. As our jovial party of islanders were sitting, the ladies in their garlands, suddenly a boat was perceived coming down under the side of the island; presently it moored, and two gentlemen ascended the bank, and approached the ladies. “Dr. Leroy,” said several voices; “and,” added George Woodburn, “as I live, Henry Clavering!” He rushed forward to meet Mr. Clavering, and there was a most affectionate handshaking. Letty and Millicent Heritage also ran forward to joyously welcome the son of Sir Emanuel, who had been two years abroad. Ann Woodburn advanced more sedately but cordially, and, with a somewhat flushed countenance, welcomed their young friend, introducing Miss Drury to him. “Why, when did you arrive, Clavering?” asked George Woodburn. “Only yesterday,” he replied; “but I happened to meet Dr. Leroy in Castleborough, and he was kind enough to come up to-day and tell me of your water-frolic, and here we are.” “A thousand welcomes,” said George, looking very happy, and so said the ladies. A great many questions and answers from both sides passed, and Thorsby, springing up, said, “Well, now I declare, that was prophetic. I thought these garlands were only a sportive freak, but they were in honour of Mr. Clavering’s return, and they shall be suspended from the branches of this oak.”