Vedder’s assertion was near the truth, for undeniably Ian and Thora had been careless of any one but themselves. Yet their love was so vital and primitive, so unaffected and sincere, that it touched the sympathies of all. In this cold, far-northern island, it had all the glow and warmth of some rose-crowned garden of a tropical paradise. But such special days are like days set 176 apart; they do not fit into ordinary life and cannot be continued long under any circumstances. So the last day came and Thora said:
“Mother, dear, it is a day in a thousand for beauty, and we are going to get Aunt Brodie’s carriage to ride over to Stromness and see the queer, old town, and the Stones of Stenness.”
“Go not near them. If you go into the cathedral you go expecting some good to come to you; for angels may be resting in its holy aisles, ready and glad to bless you. What will you ask of the ghosts among the Stones of Stenness? Is there any favour you would take from the Baal and Moloch worshipped with fire and blood among them?”
“Why, Mother,” said Thora, “I have known many girls who went with their lovers to Stenness purposely to join their hands through the hole in Woden’s Stone and thus take oath to love each other forever.”
“Thou and Ian will take that oath in the holy church of St. Magnus.”
“That is what we wish, Mother,” said Ian. “We wish nothing less than that.”
“Well, then, go and see the queer, old, old town, and go to the Mason’s Arms, and you will 177 get there a good dinner. After it ride slowly back. Father will be home before six and must have his meal at once.”
“That is the thing we shall do, Mother. Ian thought it would be so romantic to take a lunch with us and eat it among the Stones of Stenness. But the Mason’s Arms will be better. The Masons are good men, Mother?”
“In all their generations, good men. Thy father is a Mason in high standing.”
“Yes, that is so! Then the Mason’s Arms may be lucky to us?”