VEXATIONS AND CONSOLATIONS 127 



with a rush, goes through it in a flutter, and ends it in 

 alternations of dejection and rage. 



What a charming man So-and-so is, but what a wet 

 blanket he is to himself and everybody from the com- 

 mon failing. The train is actually moving, and, as 

 usual, like a whirlwind, he is projected in by the guard, 

 panting and irritable. You know perfectly well how 

 it has happened ; he got up too late, spluttered over 

 the hot coffee, chivied the cabman all the way, charged 

 through the porters on the platform, and here he is. 

 Naturally he discovers that he left his waterproof in the 

 hansom ; he searches in vain for his pipe ; he fumes 

 and frets, and swears he is the most unfortunate wretch 

 on earth. The song birds, the flowers, the fields, the 

 clear atmosphere touch him never a whit, and the 

 chances are that he continues through the livelong day 

 as he began. In running his line through at the water- 

 side he will miss one or two rings, and only find it out 

 when the collar has been affixed. The mistake remedied 

 he essays a cast or two, and away goes half of his rod ; 

 he neglected to tie the joints together, and attributes 

 the mishap to the tackle makers, who did not always 

 provide patent ready-made fasteners. These blunders, 

 miscalled ill-luck, do not soothe the temper, and 

 they certainly do not assist him to joyousness and 

 success. 



As a matter of course our friend smacks hard at the 

 first fish which rises, and hails the returning collar, 

 minus point and fly, with a sarcastic grin, as if some 

 evil genius outside himself had done the deed. Hence- 

 forth he will be in the mood to invite all mishaps that 

 are possible and probable. In climbing a stile he will 

 tickle the hawthorn hedge with his rod top, swing his 

 suspended landing net into the thorns, and perhaps 

 shake his fly-book out of his pocket in petulant descent 



