in a Punt. 25 



tall hat, tied up with a splendid jewel, and those pretty little children. 

 I've seen them here before, surely. 



" But if thy purse is empty 

 Come not to me a wooing," 



they sing as they pass through the lock almost like a vision. "Who 

 can they be ? I know that man's face, so well — so very well. Who is he ?* 

 Ah ! I see — yes, I see a crowd of upturned horror-stricken faces. A black 

 platform before an open window in a wide thoroughfare, crammed with 

 weeping people ; a masked figure leaning on an axe. Not a word — not a 

 soujid — a praying form, and a hand uplifted. " Juxon, remember!" and 

 then — then I wake with a violent start, for I can't stand any more of it ; 

 and I find that I have wandered in dreams " far and wide," and had a 

 waking nightmare to conclude with. 



Then Bill awakes, and Charley recovers himself. The noon is passed, the 

 afternoon comes on, and to it we fall again. For half an hour the fish bite 

 well, right well, and then they go ofE suddenly. 



" What is the reason of this. Bill ? " 



"That 'ere blamed trout heV' come in the swim, I'll lay a quartern, 

 master. Gi' me the ledger;" and, taking oflF the worm, he slipped on a 

 neat little dace. As he did so there was a bustling rise and a dash from a 

 big fish not ten yards below the swim. 



" Tould yer so ! There he be ! Eight pound if a bounce ! If ye gets hold 

 o' him he'll gin ye sport;" and, pitching the dace two-thirds down the swim. 

 Bill handed the rod to Charley. " Now, if you feels him touch the bait, 

 sir, giv'm half a moment just to get the bait in his mouth, and don't 

 strike directly." But Charley was too unused to big fish, and too nervous ; 

 for the next moment, just as Bill had dropped in a big lump of clay 

 and bran to coax the little ones, there was a smart drag at the rod, and 

 instead of giving to him Charley hit him hard directly. There was a 

 rush and a dash out of water, a glimpse of 81b. of silver, gold, and crimson, 

 and the fish was away, liber et exuUans. 



* The picture of Charles the First with his Queen and children in a barge at Hampton 

 Court is well known. 



