"Nor I," said Star; "will you teach me how, Mr. Winthrope?" (meaning James.)
"I thought we old people were to entertain you this afternoon," said the father.
"We will return in time for that, father," James said, rising. "John, I'll get the bait; you get the tackle, and we will teach these young ladies how to fish."
"Be careful," admonished the mother; "don't fall into the stream."
"Anne, are you not going?" asked Edith, as she rose with the others.
"I must remain here and help mother; and will await your return," said Anne, as she came around to Edith and put her arm around her.
"You are a dutiful child, Anne," said Edith, kissing Anne thereat.
Edith and Star were both dressed in gray serge skirts, white silk waists and sailor hats. While John and James got ready the ladies prepared themselves for the event of their lives. They were in waiting on the porch when John and James came up, with plenty of bait and tackle in their hands. So off they went immediately: John and Edith together, and James and Star, the father and mother and Anne standing on the porch watching their going.
They struck the mountain stream a mile below the house, and the two ladies fell to the sport with the spirited joy of youth. The pair became separated after awhile, as all such sportsmen and women often do. One pair went up the stream, and one went down, after the elusive fish.
John and Edith came to a pool, after wandering through the bypaths of the forest, far below the other two. Around the pool the trees hung low, and the shades were heavy, and the water was dark and deep. By the pool they sat down on a log, and cast their lines to await the fisherman's luck.