UNEXPECTED DIFFICULTIES 73 



way now runs, it would be a perfect elysium for 

 poor hard-worked weary pilgrims to renew their 

 health on the hills and be happy by that pleasant 

 river; but although there is no river, there is 

 good fishing to be had not many miles away. 

 I spent a day there and left it with regret. In 

 the evening I entrained for Ludlow, and Thurs- 

 day, July yth, was the day arranged for our bit 

 of private trout and grayling fishing. It was a 

 splendid day, the first of the series of hot days 

 we are just now having. We decided that to 

 fish on such a day in a blazing sun would not 

 be good for our health, and certainly not for 

 our chance of catching any fish. We started, a 

 nice little party of us two fishermen, one lady, 

 a nurse, and two children a very promising lot 

 for fish catching ! We had a delightful tea under 

 an old oak tree, strawberries and cream and all 

 the other delectable things that go to make up 

 a pretty picnic. That being over, the two anglers 

 went to work. There was a big trout, a two- 

 pounder, just under the bushes on our side. 

 He could only be got at by a sort of dabbing 

 process that is, by dropping your insect very 

 gently through the branches and broad green 

 leaves, no easy task to perform without disturb- 

 ing the trout. I did not attempt this cunning 

 device, first, because it is not the sort of fishing 

 that I like or approve of, and, secondly, because 

 I should certainly have failed if I had made the 



