240 TROUT FISHING 



either the main river or a side stream. And when 

 I yearned to fish the one there was the bull waiting for 

 me in the path, and when the other there was he 

 also. So, of course, I had to go round and round. 

 He did not, I think, like my hat, which is a large 

 hat and a sensible ; it is resented by all four-footed 

 beasts and by some who have only two feet. 



To return, nay to come, to the fishing, the long, 

 long day yielded me two smallish trout and one 

 smallish grayling, and as for skill, and comparisons 

 with Marryat, and nonsense of that kind, I blushed 

 for that self of the evening before. After losing 

 five or six fish and putting down all the others there 

 was precious little pride left in me. I crept home 

 under the now gloomy avenue a humble man. 



On Sunday there was no fishing, but a great peace 

 born of glorious music echoing down the cathedral, 

 and afterwards of slow wanderings round the pre- 

 cincts, whose fair paths, smooth lawns, and ancient 

 houses, with deep-blue sky overhead and sunlight 

 flickering through the trees, are like a dream-picture 

 of some golden age. If the spirit of Walton ever 

 revisits the earth it surely does not wander far 1 



On Monday, still humble, but refreshed by the 

 spirit of old Winchester, I came to the fishing again, 

 hoping for a modest little basket which might enable 

 me to work off an obligation or so by means of a 

 brace of trout here and another there. But I 



