“Why, Sunna! They left this morning about four o’clock. Father went down to the pier with Boris. Boris sailed with them.”
“Thora! Thora! I thought Boris was to remain here until the naval party returned from Shetland?”
“The lieutenant in command thought Boris could help the enlisting, for in Lerwick Boris has many friends. Thou knows my sisters Anna and 121 Nenie live in Lerwick. Boris was fain to go and see them.”
“But they will return here when their business is finished in Lerwick?”
“They spoke of doing so, but mother is not believing they will return. They took with them all the men enlisted here and the men are wanted very much. Boris did not bid us a short ‘good-bye.’ Mother was crying, and when he kissed me his tears wet my cheeks.”
Sunna did not answer. For a few minutes she felt as if her heart had suddenly died. At last she blundered out:
“I suppose the officer was afraid that––Boris might slip off while he was away.”
“Well, then, thou supposes what is wrong. When a fight is the question, Boris needs no one either to watch him or to egg him on.”
“Is that youngster, Macrae, going to join? Or has he already taken the Queen’s shilling? I think I heard such a report.”
“No one could have told that story. Macrae is bound by a contract to McLeod for this year and indeed, just yet, he does not wish to go.”