78 DAYS AND NIGHTS OF SALMON FISHING 



upon my trail. Infuriated she was (for the whole 

 Xantippe possessed her). She sallied forth like 

 another Ceres in quest of her lost child. Half 

 frightened, half pleased, I could see her toiling up 

 the hill. " Master Harry ! Master Harry ! " re- 

 sounded shrilly through the woods and valleys : 

 even now methinks her voice rings in my ears. In 



vain 



" Nor at the lawn, nor at the wood, was he." 



But when at length she returned, " alia solinga 

 valle," I stood confessed within the range of her 

 animated optics. She declared her sentiments with- 

 out reserve in very fluent language. I was an 

 obstropolous brat ; a perfect damon (demon) , as fond 

 of dabbling in water as a sallymander. I should 

 catch it when she got hold of me, that I should. 

 This being intelligibly explained, I thought I would 

 delay that period as long as possible. To all this 

 eloquence, therefore, answer made I none ; but I 

 believe I looked and felt rather oddly. At length, 

 seeing her amble to and fro upon the banks, and 

 perceiving that she had the hydrophobia strong 

 upon her, I told her if she wanted me she must come 

 and fetch me, as I was forbidden to go into the 

 water. " Hang your imperance, I says, Master 

 Harry, but I'll find one as shall fetch you in a twink- 

 ling ! " So saying, the eloquent Martha suited the 

 action to the word, and ran round the turn of the 

 river, where it seems she knew the keeper was fish- 

 ing, who, I believe, in village phrase, " kept com- 

 pany with her/' Down comes John, a good-natured 

 fellow ; tickles me with the point of his fishing rod 



