174 AUGUST ON THE 1TCHEN. 



and that boys with their rat-sniffing terriers 

 were too much in evidence along the river 

 banks. 



Now as regards the space of time occupied 

 by the Public School summer holidays, I have 

 always been on duty : having already by that 

 date enjoyed to the full the long days of June 

 and early July which are gilded by the midging 

 trout of sultry afternoons, as well as by the 

 true evening rise that plays the prelude to 

 summer nights. Yet August week-ends have 

 always kindly allowed many of us to snatch a 

 fearful joy, when able to leave the City, in a 

 fast train for Salisbury or Stockbridge after 3 

 p.m. on Friday afternoon, knowing that before 

 six o'clock we can exchange our London clothes 

 for the old flannel suit, as well as the grit of 

 the baked pavement for the cool squelch of the 

 water meadow. 



No one who can enjoy this can truthfully 

 deny the patent fact that his lines are cast in 

 pleasant places. The walk to the station, at 

 seven o'clock on a lovely morning with a brace 

 of good trout ensconced in wet rushes, knowing 

 that a few hours will again bring the pleasure 

 of the westward journey in ample time for the 

 evening fishing, is crowded not only with a 

 general feeling of thankfulness, but also with 

 the plans for the capture of the specimen trout 

 which has for years past been before one's eyes. 



The chaos again at Waterloo at two o'clock 

 on an August Saturday, in the days of old 

 * Number one main line,' was in itself an 



