'What a pity,' said Tricksy regretfully; 'we've had such a jolly day of it, haven't we, Marjorie?'
'Awfully jolly,' replied Marjorie; 'but we'll come again soon.—You'll come too, won't you, Neil?'
'I will be coming as soon as I can be sparing the time, you may be sure of that, Miss Marjorie,' replied the lad with a smile.
The dogs were recalled from the rabbit-holes and came, their faces covered with sand, and the boat was pushed off from the shore.
Half-way across the firth, Marjorie turned and looked back regretfully.
'What a pity we have to go home,' she said. 'It would be awfully jolly to spend all night in the cottage.'
'Look to your oar, Marjorie,' sang out Allan, for the boat was beginning to turn round.
In a short time they reached the landing-stones, of which the lower ones were already submerged.
'Won't you all look in and see Mother before you go home?' suggested Neil, after the boat had been drawn up and secured to the mooring-chain. 'She'd be pleased if you'd come and say good evening to her; and Miss Tricksy, you would be seeing the little puffins that Hamish gave you; Mother tells me that they're coming along finely.'
Mrs. Macdonnell's cottage was not far distant, and the young people accepted Neil's invitation.