SALMON ANQLINQ IN IBELAND. 115 



I linger over the sheet as loath to leave the subject ; but the best 

 friends must part, aild we have come to that inevitable hour, on the 

 shores of Arrow, the last of our green drake lakes. This sheet of 

 water, without presenting any striking beauties, yet has charms of a 

 pleasing kind ; ** there are sloping, green, and cultivated, banks, 

 finely wooded promontories, low, but stretching far into its bosom," 

 with many an emerald isle sleeping on its blue surface. This 

 morning, when we left Boyle, we quitted it for the season, and 

 looked our last on Lough Key the splendid sun-ounding woods of 



Lord , and the venerable ruins of the Abbey one of the most 



beautiful in Ireland. Nor did we pass the comfortable but unpre- 

 tending inn without a sigh, hoping devoutly that during the remainder 

 of our journey we might always find one as good. 



It is needless to record our sayings and doings on the silver 

 Arrow ; they have been already told at Belvidere, Dereveragh, and 

 Lake Owel. Sufiice it to say the sport was excellent, and that in 

 four consecutive days thirty-one trout fell to my rod. In point of 

 size they were very fair, the largest weighing rather over eight 

 pounds and a half 



The day is over, and we stand on the hot and dusty road looking 

 up the long slope which leads to Boyle. 



" Here they come, sir I " At that moment I did not feel as a 

 model family man ought to have felt. The occupants of the 

 rapidly approaching car seemed not so much friends, as savages 

 about to tear me from what I held so dear. Whilst we drove away 

 I watched the lake as if it wore the form of some departing friend. 

 I was very dolorous, and looked so. 



" Come, cheer up ! What would you have ? " 



"I would have the lakes." 



"What ! and give up the Erne?" 



" No." 



" But you cannot have both. You must renounce one." 



" I cannot ! " 



** What is to be done ? Don't threaten to shoot yourself like 

 Scythrop Glowry. There, light your pipe : already you have ' One 



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