CHAPTER XXX

Theydidn’tspendalltheirdaysontheisland.TheyspentmorethanhalfofthemwanderingatwillthroughtheenchantedMuskokacountry.BarneyknewthewoodsasabookandhetaughttheirloreandcrafttoValancy.Hecouldalwaysfindtrailandhauntoftheshywoodpeople.Valancylearnedthedifferentfairy-likenessesofthemosses—thecharmandexquisitenessofwoodlandblossoms.Shelearnedtoknoweverybirdatsightandmimicitscall—thoughneversoperfectlyasBarney.Shemadefriendswitheverykindoftree.ShelearnedtopaddleacanoeaswellasBarneyhimself.Shelikedtobeoutintherainandshenevercaughtcold. Sometimestheytookalunchwiththemandwentberrying—strawberriesandblueberries.Howprettyblueberrieswere—thedaintygreenoftheunripeberries,theglossypinksandscarletsofthehalfripes,themistyblueofthefullymatured!AndValancylearnedtherealflavourofthestrawberryinitshighestperfection.TherewasacertainsunlitdellonthebanksofMistawisalongwhichwhitebirchesgrewononesideandontheotherstill,changelessranksofyoungspruces.Therewerelonggrassesattherootsofthebirches,combeddownbythewindsandwetwithmorningdewlateintotheafternoons.HeretheyfoundberriesthatmighthavegracedthebanquetsofLucullus,greatambrosialsweetnesseshanginglikerubiestolong,rosystalks.Theyliftedthembythestalkandatethemfromit,uncrushedandvirgin,tastingeachberrybyitselfwithallitswildfragranceenspheredtherein.WhenValancycarriedanyoftheseberrieshomethatelusiveessenceescapedandtheybecamenothingmorethanthecommonberriesofthemarket-place—verykitchenlygoodindeed,butnotastheywouldhavebeen,eatenintheirbirchdelluntilherfingerswerestainedaspinkasAurora’seyelids. Ortheywentafterwater-lilies.BarneyknewwheretofindtheminthecreeksandbaysofMistawis.ThentheBlueCastlewasgloriouswiththem,everyreceptaclethatValancycouldcontrivefilledwiththeexquisitethings.Ifnotwaterliliesthencardinalflowers,freshandvividfromtheswampsofMistawis,wheretheyburnedlikeribbonsofflame. Sometimestheywenttrout