130 TWO DAYS FLY-FISH I XG 



reached it, when some wags who had read my ad- 

 vert isement, received me with shouts of laughter, 

 and having thus amused themselves at my expense, 

 they left me, and I then began to look about me. 

 My consternation was however great, on seeing at 

 least four ladies advancing from different quarters 

 upon me. All I could do was to stand still, and 

 select from the matrimonial quartette who were 

 approaching. First came a thin little woman, who 

 squeaked in an attempted softness of tone, 4 Phi- 

 lander,' and passed a little way. Then came a 

 female, standing at least six feet without her shoes, 

 who growled in my affrighted ear' Philander/ 

 After her waddled a fat asthmatic lady, who pant- 

 ingly exclaimed Phi-Philander.' Fain would 

 I have said with Macbeth, 



' I'll see no more,' 



but, lo! a fourth certainly the best appearing of 

 the four, who whispered in a sweet voice, though I 

 thought rather affected, Philander/ The wond- 

 rous four had now stopped in dead silence before 

 me, looking daggers at each other. Apprehending 

 fearful consequences from their mutual jealousy, 

 I broke the silence by saying in a determined, 

 though respectful voice, ' Ladies, / am Philander.' 

 ' Then, Sir,' said the squeaker, ' I'll take your arm, 

 ' if you please, and we can enter into those topic*, 

 ' wliich the presence of strangers' here she was 

 interrupted by the growler. * Give me your arm, 



