CHAPTER V.
And so after a few days of bustle and hurry, Victoria once more took up her wanderings. Her uncle was her constant companion, and when he bade her adieu at the station, she felt as if everything which she had been obliged to leave undone would be looked after as conscientiously as if she were by his side. She had pleaded to be allowed to take Dora with her, and James Vale consented most willingly. She needed a woman’s care, who else could care for her as tenderly as Victoria who loved her most dearly, and Dora clung to her new found friend as if she had discovered in her a second mother.
Victoria had decided to visit some parts of Scotland, and having heard much of the beauties of the Firth of Forth, she decided to go there for a time and take up her residence at Leith; but she had not been there long when she saw a decided change for the worse in Roger. The air did not agree with him, so of course she must find some other place in which the invalid could be comfortable. He always seemed better when at sea, so she decided to try sailing for a time. A slow sailing vessel was to start for Aberdeen in a few days, and she engaged passage for her party on the ship. At Aberdeen she would rest for a few days until she had determined where to go and what to do; but before the ship reached Aberdeen she had decided. On the voyage she overheard two sailors talking. They were evidently strangers, and were forming each other’s acquaintance.
“Wheer do’est the hail fra’ lad?” asked one.
“Fra’ Duncausby Head, mon,” replied the other, “an’ a’ wish a’ ha’ neer left it.”
“Duncausby Head! Duncausby Head! Wheer be thot noo? Be et far fra’ here?”
The other laughed uproarously. “Weel thou art fash, I ween. Wheer ha’ thee lived all tha’ life?”
“I’ Edinburgh,” replied the first sailor, rather testily. He did not enjoy the teasing laugh of his companion.
“Eh, mon, tha’ should coom wi’ me ti’ my hame. I’ll be gooin’ back soon. Theer I can be free an’ happy.”
“But wheer be it? Do goold grow on trees theer? thou art so fast ti goo back.”