DUFFER'S LUCK 225 



Tintern went up the river with his fishing rod, as 

 the sky was not yet clear enough for the main sport : 

 after having absented himself for a considerable 

 time, he returned to the party with a fish, which, 

 being too large for his basket, he held with his 

 handkerchief, a corner of which he had passed 

 through the gills. This fish he lifted up before 

 Tom Purdie, with an air of success that I never 

 saw him assume before, saying, " Now, Mr. Purdie, 

 I have conquered a sea trout at last, and here he is !" 



Tom was all aghast, for before the fish was laid 

 on the ground he thought he saw what he called 

 " a very nice new-swoomed gilse " ; but, upon a 

 closer inspection, his practised eye soon descried the 

 difference ; for it was a real river trout, of above 

 four pounds weight, and unusually bright in colour. 

 Tom turned him over and viewed the other side, 

 then turned him over again, and viewed both sides 

 with great seeming interest ; he then examined his 

 teeth and gills, and uttered a short groan ; pulling 

 out his snuff-box from his pocket, and having 

 solaced himself with a pinch, he took a stiU more 

 minute survey, looking alternately at the fish and 

 Mr. Tintern : at length, casting a reproachful glance 

 at the animal, he said pithily, " Od, and to be taen 

 by the like o' him ! " 



The sky was now clear again, and the wind, 

 which had only been brought on by a few rising 

 clouds, had subsided. Mr. Tintern, however, being 

 too good-humoured to take Purdie's sarcasm to 

 heart, was so charmed with his success that he 

 would not join the leisterers, but preferred fishing 

 with the fly ; at the time he delicately hinted to 



Q 



