CONCLUSION. 237 



daubed palette. At one end of this murky monster is 

 represented a big-bellied bottle, with its accompanying 

 gill-stoup ; at the other depends the figure of a 

 huge fly-hook or parrot pad ; while immediately over 

 these, along the top of the board, one may discern, 

 painted in big, black characters, " THE FISHER'S TRYST." 

 The Fisher's Tryst ! Pity the angler that ventures 

 below its ungracious rafters ! In vain will he look for 

 the rural pleasaunces they so lately overshadowed. 

 Its once tidy furniture is mostly removed, while a 

 couple of deal benches, guarding on either side a 

 coarse, oaken table, occupy instead the principal 

 apartment. The recess beds have both been robbed 

 of their pannellings, and lie exposed in offensive dis- 

 order towards the entrance. One chair, halt and 

 maimed, leans its fractured form against the narrow 

 portion of wall by which these are divided, and a 

 mirror (we recognise it as an ancient friend) is 

 suspended directly over its back. Nothing happy may 

 ever look again upon that darkening surface ! 



" They cannot smile on't, 

 Who trim their count'nauce at its perilous front." 



We turn with a shiver from this reflector of the 

 human face divine the loved things we looked for 



