While dinner was preparing, the whole party were on the lake in boats, equipped with fishing apparatus, and if the trout had been in half as willing humor as the fisher, it would have been a bad day for them.  But perhaps they apprehended that it was merely a bridal party, and they were leaping all over the lake, flipping their tails in the sun, and scorning all the visible wiles.  Fish, they seemed to say, are not so easily caught as men.

There appeared to be a good deal of excitement in the boat that carried the artist and Miss Lamont.  It was fly-fishing under extreme difficulties.  The artist, who kept his flies a good deal of the time out of the boat, frankly confessed that he would prefer an honest worm and hook, or a net, or even a grappling-iron.  Miss Lamont, with a great deal of energy, kept her line whirling about, and at length, on a successful cast, landed the artist’s hat among the water-lilies.  There was nothing discouraging in this, and they both resumed operations with cheerfulness and enthusiasm.  But the result of every other cast was entanglement of each other’s lines, and King noticed that they spent most of their time together in the middle of the boat, getting out of snarls.  And at last, drifting away down to the outlet, they seemed to have given up fishing for the more interesting occupation.  The clouds drifted on; the fish leaped; the butcher-bird called from the shore; the sun was purpling Lafayette.  There were kinks in the leader that would not come out, the lines were inextricably tangled.  The cook made the signals for dinner, and sent his voice echoing over the lake time and again before these devoted anglers heard or heeded.  At last they turned the prow to the landing, Forbes rowing, and Marion dragging her hand in the water, and looking as if she had never cast a line.  King was ready to pull the boat on to the float, and Irene stood by the landing expectant.  In the bottom of the boat was one poor little trout, his tail curled up and his spots faded.

“Whose trout is that?” asked Irene.

“It belongs to both of us,” said Forbes, who seemed to have some difficulty in adjusting his oars.

“But who caught it?”

“Both of us,” said Marion, stepping out of the boat; “we really did.”  There was a heightened color in her face and a little excitement in her manner as she put her arm round Irene’s waist and they walked up to the cabin.  “Yes, it is true, but you are not to say anything about it yet, dear, for Mr. Forbes has to make his way, you know.”

When they walked down the mountain the sun was setting.  Half-way down, at a sharp turn in the path, the trees are cut away just enough to make a frame, in which Lafayette appears like an idealized picture of a mountain.  The sun was still on the heights, which were calm, strong, peaceful.  They stood gazing at this heavenly vision till the rose had deepened into violet, and then with slow steps descended through the fragrant woods.