30 THAMES FISHING. 



only a troller myself, I fancied that I was looked 

 upon with some degree of contempt. At all events 

 I was sensible of my own inferiority, and, therefore, 

 listened with all proper respect and attention to 

 the various descriptions Ned gave me of his ex- 

 pilots, without intruding any of my own. It was 

 not till we became better acquainted that I ven- 

 tured to try and persuade him that trolling might 

 have its charms; and that if trout would not take 

 a bait, I had still a chance of sport with pike, 

 perch, and even chub and barbel. I believe, how- 

 ever, that to this day he looks upon me as a mere 

 poacher so bigoted is he to his own favourite 

 mode of fishing. 



Next. morning we separated, after having, accord- 

 ing to the example set us by ' old Master I/aac, 1 

 paid our reckoning, and commended our hostess for 

 ' having been diligent and having used us kindly.* 

 We did not, however, take leave of each other 

 without an agreement to meet again ; and our ac- 

 quaintance, thus commenced, has been turned into 

 a friendly intercourse, which I trust is mutually 

 agreeable. Ned, indeed, is not the kind of person 

 one meets with every day. He has a mildness 

 and gentleness in his nature, a kindness of manner, 

 and a wish to oblige, which must make him a 

 favourite with every one. Added to this he is, as 

 I said before, an expert fly-fisher; and there are 



