54 LINES IN PLEASANT PLACES 



The morning, however, comes at last when John, 

 who has been to the station with the early train, meets 

 you as you descend to the coffee-room with " She'll 

 fush the day." But you will not forget that Tweed has 

 been out of order for twelve days, rising and falling, 

 never settled. Still, though the chance is very much 

 an off one, it has to be taken. A day on any water, 

 from Galashiels down to the last pool below Coldstream, 

 is exceeding precious at this time of the year. Every 

 boat is apportioned for the riparian owners and their 

 friends to the very end of the season. If, therefore, 

 you have had kindly leave to fish any of these celebrated 

 waters, and have been unable through bad weather to 

 live up to the opportunities, I could almost weep with 

 or for you ; or, if you think strong language more 

 manly, I would make an effort for once to meet you on 

 that ground. I speak, alas, from the book. The 

 wounds inflicted by jade Fortune in these regards are 

 yet unhealed. Take, then, your very off-chance and 

 be thankful. 



The truth is that you never quite know what will 

 happen in salmon fishing. On that drenching Satur- 

 day, when you were working like a galley slave without 

 raising or seeing a fish on the Lower Floors water (where 

 Lord Randolph Churchill subsequently slew his four 

 fish), did not Mr. Gilbey take five at Carham and Mr. 

 Arkwright four at Birgham ? On the Monday, when 

 the water was a little better, did you not find that the 

 salmon had moved right away from the beat for which 

 you were that day booked ? It was surely so ; and 

 the only sport obtained was by a young gentleman 

 who had handled a rod for the first time on the pre- 

 vious Friday, and who now happened upon a 25-lb. 

 fish, the only one killed that day, with the exception of 

 a pound yellow trout, which took your own fly a 



