"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--"
"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."
"That," said the driver, "'ll be Miss Hagar--Colonel Ashendyne's granddaughter. She and me's great friends. Come by here 'most any evenin' and you'll find her sittin' on the big rock there, lookin' away to Kingdom Come."
"Stop a minute," spoke Laydon, "and let me out here. I know Miss Ashendyne. I'll wait here to meet her and walk back to the Springs with her."
He lifted his hat to his fellow-travellers and the stage went on without him. "A nice, clean-looking man," said Elizabeth who was inveterate at finding good; "not very original, but then who is?"
"I can't answer it," said Marie promptly. "Now we'll see the girl! She's coming up straight and light, like a right mountain climber." The stage met and passed Hagar, she and the driver exchanging "Good-evenings!" The stage lumbered on down the slope. "I liked her looks," said Marie. "Now, they're meeting--"
"All right, I won't. I'd like such consideration myself.--Betsy, Betsy! You are going to get strong enough at the New Springs to throw every statistic between Canada and Mexico!"