AND HOW I HAVE CAUGHT MY FISH 309 



of gudgeon and of old times to me. Indeed, I 

 remembered his tongue, once started, used to be 

 very hard to stop so I thought it best to warn my 

 companion of this failing that she might use her 

 woman's wit to stop him if need arose. He and 

 I had fished much together, braved bad weather 

 and numerous failures. So I was pleased to see 

 him again and glad, of course, to hear him say : 



" Why, bless me ! sir, you look younger than 

 ever." The telling of this fib, at which I was silly 

 enough to look pleased, started him : 



" Good morning, ma'am, allow me. Handing 

 the ladies in and out is one of our old customs 

 and privileges for which I am a stickler. I am 

 not so slippery shod or fingered as your London 

 gents." 



" Do you think the gudgeon are likely to bite 

 to-day ? " was the answer to his opening, a kindly- 

 meant effort, no doubt, to stem or, at any rate, 

 to steer the old man's tongue. 



"You may not know it, ma'am, but so long as 

 you do me the honour to come in my punt, I 

 am the responsible party." Then turning to me, 

 " Your chief duty, sir, will be to see you do not 

 miss a bite ; I'll look after the lady. Why, only 

 the other day I had a young married couple out 

 with me jack fishing ; the husband got a run, 

 hooked a fish and before I could get the net out, 

 lifted a four-pounder bang in betwixt and between 

 the lady's legs. The lady 



