loo LINES IN PLEASANT PLACES 



and don't hurry the fish." And successfully done as 

 formulated. Blind was throughout mistress of the 

 situation, and in the absence of a landing net, which 

 had not entered for a moment into calculations, she 

 backed in perfect order up the gentle slope, and the 

 fish docilely followed her up and up till it was high 

 and dry, gasping on blossoms of silver weed. It was 

 only a grayling, to be sure, black, and out of condition ; 

 but there it was, admired and petted. Blind would 

 have kissed the creature I do believe if spectators had 

 not been present ; anyhow she would not hear of 

 return to the water. What was close time to her ? It 

 was the first captive of her bow and spear, and nothing 

 would content her but embalming, and a glass case. 



Lammy was not so happy as her sister that night ; 

 the vicar had tried almost in vain to induct her into 

 the art of fishing up-stream, and her casts across, on 

 wet fly principles, while not so very bad for a beginner, 

 were so obvious a contrast to those of Blind that she 

 was not eager to dwell too much upon the wonderful 

 luck that had befallen. Much conversation ensued 

 for days as to the approaching Mayfly carnival. The 

 girls demanded the water to themselves during its 

 period, and as Lamia had landed a small trout that 

 had hooked itself down stream on a submerged olive 

 dun, she was soon as much bitten with the fishing 

 mania as Blind herself. It was comforting to the vicar 

 and cousin to be informed by the girls that they would 

 henceforth accept no services from " hangers-on " 

 meaning that they would do their own landing and 

 basketing. " We shall see," said cousin to the parson ; 

 " meanwhile (after I have bought the correct article 

 in landing nets) we shall be having a lively time, I can 

 perceive, when the old man slouches up some evening 

 to say ' Mayfly be up now, missie.' " 



