CHAPTER X. 



GRAND LARK. 



O I suppose," said the madam, one 

 bright January day, as I entered the 

 library, with my favorite bamboo rod 

 in my hand ; " that Mr. McAtee's 

 coming to see you has aroused your 

 enthusiasm, has it ? " 



"Well, partly that, and partly Edward Seymour's 

 paper on 'Trout-Fishing in the Rangeley Lakes,' in 

 the February 'Scribner.' The fact is, last year's 

 strain on this old friend was a little too much for 

 its strength ; and it has got to visit the maker, and 

 be overhauled." 



As I drew from the case its several joints, and 

 gazed upon them with the air of satisfaction and 

 pleasure which a sportsman feels when handling 

 some tried and trusty companion of his joys, was 

 it at all a wonder that the good times associated 



"5 



