"No, ma'am, not much. It's the husbands and brothers and fathers does the fishing mostly--though there's Mrs. Josslyn. _She_ fishes. The others just sit around in rocking-chairs, I reckon, and crochet. Them that has children looks after them, and them that hasn't listens to them that has. Then it's a fine air for the health; fine air and fine water. A lot of tired people come. Then there's others get into the habit of meeting friends here. Being on the border, as it were, it's convenient for more states than one. Colonel Ashendyne, for instance,--he comes because General Argyle and Judge Black and he made a pact in the war that if they lived through they'd spend a month together every two years until they died. They've kept it faithful, and because Judge Black's a great fisherman, and General Argyle likes the juleps they make here, and Colonel Ashendyne knew the place when he was a boy, they pitched on the New Springs. When they're here together, they're the three Kings.--Git up thar, Dandy!--This year the Colonel's got his daughter and granddaughter with him." Laydon nodded, looking animated and handsome. "I know the Ashendynes. Indeed--but that is neither here nor there. The Ashendynes," he explained for the benefit of the two foreigners, "are one of our oldest families, with connections everywhere; not wealthy,--we have very little wealth, you know,--but old, very widespread and honoured. A number of them in the past were really famous. It might be said of the Ashendynes as it was said of an English family--'All the sons were brave and all the daughters virtuous.'" "You seem," said Marie Caton, "to have a profound acquaintance with the best literature." Laydon disclaimed it with a modest shake of the head. "Oh, only so-so! However, literature is my profession. I have a chair of Belles-Lettres." "That is interesting," said Elizabeth in her friendly voice. "Is it your vacation? Are you a fisherman, too?" "Oh, I fish a little on occasion! But I am not what you call a great fisherman. And I was never at the New Springs before." He gave a half-boyish, embarrassed laugh. "To tell the truth, I am one of those persons who've come because another person happens to be here--" "Oh!" said Marie Caton, "I see!" She began presently to hum beneath her breath-- "Gin a body meet a body, Comin' through the rye--" "Oh, what a rough piece of road!" "It ain't often mended," said the driver. "They say times is changing,--there was a fellow through here last summer said they was changing so rapid they made you dizzy,--but there ain't much change gotten round to Bear Mountain. I remember that identical rut there when I was just a little shaver.--Look out, now, on that side, and you'll see the New Springs again! We ain't more'n a mile an' a half away now. The ladies often walk up here to see the sunset." "There's one coming up the road now," said Marie Caton, "In a green gingham and a shady hat."