138 TWO DAY8 FLY-FISHING IN THE TEST. 



was dignified you see, without being vituperative. 

 Then I turned to my servant Brod wages, and said 

 in an imperative tone, ' pray, Sir, what have you to 

 ' offer as an excuse for being here?- * Sir,' said 

 Brod wages, I believe Fve more right here than 

 < you/ 



' How, pray/ said I, surprized but calm. 

 ' Merely, Sir, that the lady of the house is my 

 wife,* returned the sneering rascal. I am sorry to 

 ' say,' replied this female fiend, ' that this is the 



* case. ' Infamous wretch, 1 exclaimed I, you . . . 



* Don't insult my wife," said Brodwages, ' or I'll 

 ' kick you down stairs.' I thought it prudent to 

 prevent this catastrophe, and therefore left the 

 house, amidst the jeers of these wretches. I lost no 

 time in returning to this place, and resuming my 

 shorts and gaiters. I am still looking out for a 

 wife, but have as yet met with but little encou- 

 ragement, and fate seems to have determined that I 

 shall live and die an old bachelor. 



We listened with considerable patience to Mr. 

 Peebles' 1 account of his matrimonial misfortunes, 

 which we found sufficiently tedious. We were not 

 sorry when he took his departure, that we might 

 betake ourselves to rest. 



The next morning found us again on the banks 

 of the Test, and for the first time in my life I caught 

 a grayling. These fish appear to have as great a 



