. Farquhar went over to Miss Benson, and chatted for
a few moments, making herself particularly agreeable to Mr. Meigs, and
actually carried that gentleman off to the spring, and then as an escort
to her cottage, shaking her fan as she went away at Mr. King and Irene,
and saying, "It is a waste of time for you youngsters not to be in the
german."

The german was just ended, and the participants were grouping themselves
on the gallery to be photographed, the usual custom for perpetuating the
memory of these exercises, which only take place every other morning.
And since something must be done, as there are only six nights for
dancing in the week, on the off mornings there are champagne and fruit
parties on the lawn.

It was not about the german, however, that King was thinking. He was
once more beside the woman he loved, and all the influences of summer
and the very spirit of this resort were in his favor. If I cannot win
her here, he was saying to himself, the Meigs is in it. They talked
about the journey, about Luray, where she had been, and about the
Bridge, and the abnormal gayety of the Springs.

"The people are all so friendly," she said, "and strive so much to put
the stranger at his ease, and putting themselves out lest time hang
heavy on one's hands. They seem somehow responsible."

"Yes," said King, "the place is unique in that respect. I suppose it
is partly owing to the concentration of the company in and around the
hotel."

"But the sole object appears to me to be agreeable, and make a real
social life. At other like places nobody seems to care what becomes of
anybody else."

"Doubtless the cordiality and good feeling are spontaneous, though
something is due to manner, and a habit of expressing the feeling that
arises. Still, I do not expect to find any watering-place a paradise.
This must be vastly different from any other if it is not full of
cliques and gossip and envy underneath. But we do not go to a summer
resort to philosophize. A market is a market, you know."

"I don't know anything about markets, and this cordiality may all be
on the surface, but it makes life very agreeable, and I wish our
Northerners would catch the Southern habit of showing sympathy where it
exists."

"Well, I'm free to say that I like the place, and all its easy-going
ways, and I have to thank you for a new experience."

"Me? Why so?"

"Oh, I wouldn't have come if it had not been for your suggestion--I mean
for yo