ANGLING COUSINS AT THE VICARAGE 101 



"Aye, they are still faithful to the gentle art." 

 Seasons had flown with that year's Mayflies, and Nether- 

 bate and its kindly people had to me become just a 

 pleasant remembrance. But spite of the archidia- 

 conal hat and gaiters I knew the vicar when acciden- 

 tally met on the platform of York Station, and his 

 reply to one of my questions about the happy people 

 at Netherbate was precisely as I have written it. Of 

 course the calls of romance had been fully answered by 

 the marriage of Lamia to the vicar, and Belinda to 

 cousin, and sunshine had blessed them all in basket 

 and in store. I was now to learn that while the parties 

 were still free they had continued their angling studies 

 and practice, duly progressing from wet to dry fly, 

 from trout to salmon. 



" In fact," said the archdeacon, " I have had a 

 letter from your old pal * Blinders ' this very day, tell- 

 ing me that she landed a Tweed fish yesterday above 

 Kelso, and her boy was allowed to hold the rod while 

 the boat rowed ashore. Lamia started by the train 

 just now to join in her fishing, and I am left to the 

 dubious excitements of the Congress. So glad to see 

 you looking so well ! Adieu." 



