SUNLIGHT. 225 



CHAP. X. 



" And doun the stream, like Levin's gleam, 

 The fleggit salmond flew ; 

 The ottar yaap his pray let drap, 

 And to his hiddils drew." 



Border Minstrelsy. 



Whilst the Pavilion* was getting ready for my recep- 

 tion, I took up my quarters at an inn at Melrose, and, 

 at my instigation, Mr. Tintern came there also, and 

 thus we soon got intimate. The river had been falling 

 in for some time, and was now too low for fly-fishing ; 

 and as the sky had lately been pretty clear, and as 

 the evening promised a calm and sunny day for the 

 morrow, I promised to show him the manner in which 

 we speared salmon by the light of the sun, should the 

 weather prove as good as I anticipated. 



My expectations for the time, at least, were fulfilled ; 

 for on waking I found the whole expanse of heaven 

 serene and glowing ; not a cloud to be seen ; not a 

 breath of air to ruffle the water ; so I sent to awaken 

 my companion. Breakfast was prepared, but no Mr. 



* Having often mentioned the Pavilion Water, I should have 

 explained before that it belongs to Lord Somerville ; and I have 

 thus called it from the name of his house, which I rented for some 

 years, and which is about two miles up the river from Melrose. The 

 chief scene of my operations, however, was some miles lower down 

 the river from Dryburgh, as far as Makerstoun. 



