CHAPTER VII.
REPLY FOR US, KATE.
Beatrice Meadowsweet and the Bertrams spent a delightful day together.
The Bertrams frankly owned their inability to manage a boat.

They welcomed her timely assistance, and thanked her for offering it, and then the young folk laughed and joked together, the Bertrams secretly finding Beatrice all the more interesting and fascinating because they knew that their mother would not quite approve of their being found in her society.
Beatrice told them about the harbor, took Kate into her boat, instructed Loftus how to manage his sail, and showed him the difference between rowing on a river and on the sea.

Finally, she frankly accepted their suggestion that she should join their impromptu picnic.

They landed on the green banks of that part of the coast which contained the ruins of an ancient Danish fort.

There they kindled a fire, boiled a kettle of water, made tea, enjoyed bread-and-butter, cold chicken and strawberries, and had an exceedingly festive time.
When the meal was over Bertram asked Miss Meadowsweet to show him over the fort.