He had not too great a belief in himself, though he was very much in love with Kate Bonnet.
"Is this the best time of day for fishing, Master Newcombe ?" she said, without rising or offering him her hand.

"For my part, I don't believe it is." He smiled as he threw his hat upon the ground.

"Let me put your line a little farther out." And so saying, he took the rod from her hand and stepped between her and the bait, which must have been now quite hot from lying so long in a bit of sunshine.

He rearranged the bait and threw the line far out into the river.

Then he gave her the rod again.
He seated himself on the ground near-by.
"This is the second time I have been over the bridge to-day," he said, "and this morning, very early, I saw, for the first time, your father's ship, which was lying below the town.