"I looked and looked. It was blue and bright in the distance; it was a clear, soft green beneath us. I saw a fish leap——"
"So far I'm with you, anyhow," said I. "That certainly is a big step—and looks like a miracle. New York harbor clean! . . . How about customs?" I asked as we drew in.
"Gone—clean forgotten—with a lot of other foolishness. The air ships settled that. We couldn't plant custom houses in the air, you see—along ten thousand miles of coast and border."
I was watching the shore. There were plenty of people about, but strangely gay of aspect and bright-colored in raiment. I could see amusement piers—numbers of them—some evidently used as gymnasia, in some there was dancing. Motor cars of all descriptions ran swiftly and quietly about. Air ships, large and small, floated off, to the north and west mostly. The water was freckled with pleasure boats. I heard singing—and music.
"Some new holiday?" I ventured.
"Not at all," said my sister. "It is afternoon."
She watched me, quizzically.
"It is afternoon," she repeated. "Let that sink in!"
It sank in, slowly.
"Do you mean that no one works in the afternoon?"