BIRDS' NESTING SEASON 161 



As we left behind us the beautiful scene of so many 

 iniquities, a Raven, big and hoarse enough to have 

 been a survivor from Patrick's day, when Ravens' food 

 was cheap in Scalloway, flew close over us, croaking an 

 appropriate good-bye. 



It was a farewell to the Shetlands, as well as to the 

 castle. 



On reaching Lerwick we found at the quay a steamer 

 which was to sail that night with a cargo of fish and 

 cattle, direct for Aberdeen, and as the weather was still 

 broken, and there was little more that we could see, we 

 put our things on board at once, and three days later 

 had crossed the Forth Bridge, the first day it was 

 opened for general traffic, and were in London again. 



For those of us, especially, whose place in the pro- 

 cession of the generations happens just now to be 

 among the workshops on the table-land of middle life, 

 it is wholesome to be reminded every now and then 

 that time is a created thing, and life possible without 

 its limitations. 



It is a pleasant reminder of the kind to look back 

 on a holiday-trip into which the impressions of twelve 

 months seem to have been crowded, and to know that 

 while one has been away from home the sun has only 

 risen and set on as many days. 



