"That's true," he answered cheerily; "only we were getting no end of fun out of it. However, we must think of some other plan, as Mr. Garson said. Oh! but isn't he a brick, Signy?"
"He is just splendid," was the fervent answer.
"They are all splendid," replied the lad, "except perhaps Tom Holtum. I don't like him much. And to think of cousin Neeven taking to that one of all the lot! Well! if Tom is to be visiting at Trullyabister, where even I have not more than a half-civil 'Good-day'-and-don't-stay-long sort of welcome, there will be hot times in Boden, and plenty of rows."
"Oh, brodhor! don't set up a feud of your own, I beseech!" Signy cried, with a comical look of dismay on her face, and lifting both hands in appeal.
Yaspard burst into laughter. "Oh, Mootie, what a little goose you are! I couldn't keep a feud going to save my life. I can fight! I dare say, if that chap is much about, I shall knock him down if he cheeks me, but we will shake hands on the spot every time, you bet! I a feud! No, Signy, I am not a fool just yet; though if I had stayed much longer on Yelholme, I'd have lost the little wit I now possess."
They strolled away to the house, and did not know that Uncle Brüs had been lying sunning himself on the other side of the stone wall near which they stood. As the brother and sister departed the old gentleman muttered, "Not a fool yet! No, Yaspard is not such a fool now as his uncle has been through a wasted long life. Heaven pardon me!"
[1] Young gulls.
[2] Oyster-catchers.