No fire had touched its
shores, which were wooded down to the sandy margin, the bright green
foliage of the hardwood in the foreground contrasting with the more
sombre hues of the pines and hemlocks beyond. In little bays there were
patches of white and yellow water lilies, alternating their orbed
blossoms with the showy blue spikes of the Pickerel weed, and, beyond
them, on the bank itself, grew many a crimson banner of the Cardinal
flower. Another little bay was passed with its last rocky point, and
then a clearing stood revealed, void of stump or stone or mark of fire,
covered with grass and clover, save where, in the midst of a little
neglected garden, stood the model of a Swiss chalet. "Do not be afraid!"
said the woman, catching sight of Mrs. Carmichael's apprehensive look;
"there is nobody in it or anywhere near. We are all alone; even Monty
would not leave his work to come with me." Thus reassured, the party
landed, gathered a few late roses and early sweet peas, and then
proceeded to inspect the chalet. The whole building and everything in it
was in admirable taste, even to the library smoking-room, which was only
disfigured by ugly spittoons and half-burned cigars.
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