DAYS STOLEN FOR SPORT 49 



one and everything was growing daily greyer 

 when a letter came from a Thames-side farmhouse, 

 with an invitation for us both, which said: "The 

 country here is at its best and George says there 

 are trout in the weir-pool waiting to be caught. 

 Wire the time of train and he will be at Faringdon 

 to meet you." 



I looked at the face opposite me but not a muscle 

 moved in answer to my scrutiny, so the invitation 

 may have come at this particular time by chance, 

 but it was passing strange that when affairs assumed 

 this cloudy aspect letters would come, some to say : 

 "I have a permit and the Fly is up"; others: 

 " Come at once, splendid stock of birds : hares and 

 rabbits doing mischief and must be shot." 



We had a hearty greeting from our friends, a 

 midday meal with them, and then much gossip and 

 farm talk ; and after that there were stock and 

 crops to see. 



The old and substantial house, judged by ap- 

 pearances, was planned when money was plentiful 

 and the family, for whom it was built, small, for the 

 rooms were large and lofty, though few in number. 

 Since then additions have made it a well-arranged 

 and spacious home. 



I doubt whether the outward appearances in the 

 carrying on of any trade so readily disclose signs of 

 prosperity, or the reverse, as do those of a farm. 

 To rest an arm on the outer gate that gives ad- 

 mittance to the private road and take a peep at this 

 comfortable-looking farmhouse with its well-trained, 

 flowering creepers, closely shorn lawn and long 

 array of substantial outbuildings, would make any 

 countryman pleasedly expectant. During our walk 



