DAYS STOLEN FOR SPOUT 93 



really off. We were going, at least we thought we 

 were, when a lady patient sent for the doctor and, 

 no doubt, told him she would die if, etc. etc., so 

 our going was delayed until the next afternoon, and 

 we missed "a tide" that might have led us on to 



that forty-pounder ; instead of which Well ! I 



will not anticipate. 



I never feel sure of the doctor until the train 

 has started. He was at the station in good time 

 but I got a fright even then, for when I first caught 

 sight of him he was emerging from the telegraph 

 office, but, as I learnt afterwards, it was to supple- 

 ment his telegram of the day before, to the keeper, 

 which said: " Cannot come to-day," with another 

 saying : " Coming down this afternoon." 



The man who met us and took possession of our 

 precious bait had a most doleful face, and well 

 he might, for on the morrow the farmers on the 

 estate were to have their day's duck shooting on 

 the lake. My companion saw nothing in this to 

 prevent our fishing ; indeed he showed no alarm 

 until the keeper told us that it would be as well 

 to be on the water by daybreak as possibly we 

 might desire to leave when those shooters got 

 to work. 



Some men shine in all positions and are stars in 

 all companies ; they seem to glide through every 

 affair of life with the ease with which polished ivory 

 makes its way. I am not so happy ; I confess I 

 have often wished myself somewhere else, but I don't 

 remember ever having done so while staying at a 

 country inn. The doctor, too, seems quite happy 

 in the smoke-room and I don't wonder, as it 

 must be a pleasant change for him to be so near 



