a little fairy islet near the shore, where they landed to explore it,
and twine their hats with the graceful creepers and ferns growing
among its rocks. Then re-embarking, they floated at leisure up and
down the glassy shaded water, fringed with tall reeds, the girls
alternately trying their hands at the oars, till a shout from Harry
and the waving of handkerchiefs announced the arrival of the rest of
the party.

The strawberry-pickers had soon begun their search. Fred, who
preferred rowing to strawberry-picking, undertook to take charge of
Harry, who was as eager for the water as a young duck; while Mrs.
Steele, taking out her knitting, sat down beside the baskets under a
spreading oak, on a knoll overlooking the river, to wait until there
should be a demand for tea.

Very quickly the time sped away, while the children pursued their busy
but not laborious quest of the tempting berries, half hidden under
their spreading leaves; and many an exclamation, half of annoyance,
half of amusement, was uttered as one of them made a dart at a bright
spot of crimson, fancying it a rich cluster of berries, and finding
only a leaf.

"Why in the world do strawberries have red leaves, I wonder!"
exclaimed Harry, who, tired at last of boating, was pretending to help
them, though they all declared he ate as many as he picked.

"To inure you to the disappointments of life," responded Alick
oracularly. "You'll find, as you go along, there are more red
strawberry leaves than berries all through."