SUNLIGHT. 205 



CHAP. X. 



" And doun the stream, like Levin's gleam, 

 The fleggit salmond flew ; 

 The ottar yaap his pray let drap. 

 And to his hiddils drew." 



Border Minstrehy. 



Whilst the Pavilion* was getting ready for my re- 

 ception, I took up my quarters at an inn at Melrose, 

 and, at my instigation, ]\Ir. Tintern came there also, and 

 thus we soon got intimate. The river had been falling 

 in for some time, and was now too low for fly-fishing ; 

 and as the sky had lately been pretty clear, and as the 

 evening promised a calm and sunny day for the morrow, 

 I promised to show him the manner in which we speared 

 salmon by the light of the sun, should the weather prove 

 as good as I anticipated. 



My expectations for the time, at least, were fulfilled; 

 for on waking I found the whole expanse of heaven 

 serene and glowing ; not a cloud to be seen, not a 

 breath of air to rufllc the water; so I sent to awaken 

 my companion. Breakfast was prepared, but no Mr. 



* Having often mentioned the Pavilion Water, I should have 

 explained before that it belongs to Lord Somerville ; and I have 

 thus called it from the name of his house, which I rented for some 

 years, and which is about two miles up the river from Melrose. 

 The chief scene of ray operations, however, was some miles lower 

 down the river from Dryburgh, as far as Makerstouu. 



