They came to the bridge and stream; and now they could see that Awasee River did not fill its sometime channel, but flowed in a bottom of alluvial soil, rich in bright-coloured marsh grass, which stretched up the country between two of those clumps of woodland they had seen from a distance. A little further on, just where the sandy road branched off to the shore, there stood a farm house, with a conglomerate of barns and outhouses, all painted to match, in bright yellow picked out with red. "Do you see that settlement of farm-houses?" said Faith, leaning forward again,--"of all sizes, in uniform?" "Is it the fashion here to put 'earmarks' on buildings?" he answered with a smile. "Mr. Linden! You should ask Mr. Simlins that. I see his wagon there--he'll be down at the shore very likely. He's a character. He lives a mile and a half further on, just where the road turns off to Mrs. Somers'." "Simlins!" was the only reply. "He's a good sort of man, but he's funny." "What is a good sort of man, Miss Faith?" The old horse was walking quietly along the sandy road, and the smell of the salt water was becoming pleasantly perceptible. "I suppose I mean by it," said Faith thoughtfully, "a man who is not _very good_, but who is on the good side of things." "I don't call that a good sort," said Mr. Linden,--then looking round with a little smile he said, "You ought to say 'sort o' good.'" Faith looked serious and as if she felt half rebuked. "But," she said, "you would not call that a _bad_ sort?" "Then you mean that he is in the same road with what you call the _best_ people, only not so far advanced?" "No," said Faith doubtfully, "I don't mean so much as that.--I don't think Mr. Simlins is in the same road with you." "How many best roads are there to the same place? As for instance--does it matter which of these two I take to the shore?" "Only one leads to the shore," said Faith. "Yet they seem to lie near together at the outset. The same is true of the 'other shore.'" Faith sat back in her place with a face exceedingly unlike a young lady who was going to a merry-making. But they were near the shore now; not only the salt smell proclaimed it, but they could see the various bathing and other houses collected at the place, and the flag which floated high from the flag-staff, telling all who were not concerned that it was a gala day. A piece of ground immediately surrounding these buildings was fenced in; as they neared the gate, it was opened for them, and a tall farmer-looking man, whose straw hat shaded a sensible face, nodded as they passed. "That is Mr. Simlins!" said Faith.