Lady Victoria Campbell

102 "PASTORS AND MASTERS"
birds of all sorts. The smell of the grass, too, is
full of perfume.
" Columba," Tyree. Sep. 16th, 1880.
Dearest Victoria, — The morning rose so fine that
I determined to run to Iona to see the cross and
then on here, all which we have accomplished in
the most delicious weather. The cross is beautiful
in itself. Rather spoiled by the railing and the low
wall round it. But we could not allow all who come
to get access to it. Blackguards would inevitably
break the edges off and damage it. It is beautifully
worked, and dear old Vass touched me by the
intense delight with which he received my praises
of it. He walked off, averting his face, and re-
peating, " Well, that's good to hear." It is very
conspicuous from the sea, perhaps hardly massive
enough from that distance to have the best effect,
but it is on the site with the finest view, and
closest to where she sat last time we were there.
The day has been divine. I never saw one more
lovely. All the hills of all the islands were clear
under a sky of the softest creamy whites and blues.
The sea nearly quite smooth. I hope to spend
all to-morrow on the island if the weather keeps
as fine. We had a good fishing to-night ; Constance,
as usual, catching most of the biggest. Hamish
much excited. The bay here is quite calm. All
the islanders busy taking in their harvest. I
enclose a bit of fern from the spot where Mama
last sat at Iona.