94 DAYS AND NIGHTS OF SALMON FISHING. 



desired spot. Here I found that my love for the 

 libella was not mutual ; or, if it was, I may say, 



" Love, free as air, at sight of human ties 



Spreads its light wings, and in a moment flies." 



Even so did the dragon-fly : he and my hopes vanished 

 at once. Nevertheless I showed a decided taste for an 

 insular life, and sat down watching the trout rise on 

 all sides, as happy as a king; and I might have remained 

 there to this day, had not that kill-joy Martha, who 

 was blest with the care of me, and from whom I had 

 escaped in the morning, come upon my trail. Infuriated 

 she was (for the whole Xantippe possessed her). She 

 sallied forth like another Ceres in quest of her lost 

 child. Half frightened, half pleased, I could see her 

 toiling up the hill. "Master Harry! Master Harry!" 

 resounded shrilly through the woods and valleys: even 

 now methinks her voice rings in my ears. In vain — 



" Nor at the lawn, nor at the wood, was he." 



But when at length she returned, " alia solinga valle," 

 I stood confessed within the range of her animated 

 optics. She declared her sentiments without reserve 

 in very fluent language. I was an obstropolous brat ; 

 a perfect damon (demon), as fond of dabbling in water 

 as a sallymander. I should catch it when she got hold 

 of me, that I should. This being intelligibly explained, 

 I thought I would delay that period as long as possible. 

 To all this eloquenee, therefore, answer made I none ; 

 but I believe I looked and felt rather oddly. At length, 

 seeing her amble to and fro upon the banks, and per- 

 ceiving that she had the hydrophobia strong upon her, 



