OSLA'S WEDDING. 321 



to the happy couple. It was always the slack season 

 of the year. Little or nothing was doing, and the 

 young fellows regarded it as a very pleasant trip, and 

 an honour to escort a bride and bridegroom on such an 

 errand. Sometimes several couples would club together 

 and go in one boat. Usually they would be about a 

 week or ten days away ; but sometimes, if the weather 

 was boisterous — by no means a rare occurrence in 

 those high latitudes and in the dead of winter — they 

 would be detained two or three weeks. Often, if the 

 wind were contrary, the passage to or from Lerwick 

 could not be made in one day ; and I have known a 

 bridal party compelled by stress of weather to land in 

 some voe half-way, and there to remain storm-stayed for 

 several days. These, however, were by no means un- 

 pleasant contretemps, but rather the reverse. The 

 voyagers were always kindly received and hospitably 

 entertained. Little festive gatherings would be extem- 

 porised in honour of the involuntary guests, and nothing 

 in the way of payment was expected ; indeed, it would 

 have been regarded as an affront little short of an insult 

 to have offered it. 



Towards the end of December, Ned's boat was 

 launched from the " Noost " — her snug winter-quarters 

 behind the beach. The party consisted of Ned, Osla, a 

 married aunt of hers — sister of her mother, said aunt's 

 husband, and four young fishermen. Osla and her 

 aunt — the latter swelling with importance, and even 

 solemn, under a consciousness of the tremendous re- 

 sponsibility which, at Osla's earnest request, but with 



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