202 THE COMPLETE ANGLER. PART n. 



the door. And_I_am_a.rraid he will not see it yet ; for he has 



lately writ me word, he doubts his coming down this summer; 

 which, I do assure you, was the worst news he could possibly 

 have sent me. 



VlAT. Men jniist sometimes mind their affairs to make more 

 room for their pleasures; and 'tis odds he is as much displeased 

 with the business that keeps him from you, as you are that he 

 comes not. But I am most pleased with this little house of any 

 thing I ever saw : it stands in a kind of peninsula too, with a 

 delicate clear river about it. I jdare hardly go in,Je^t_Lshould 

 not like it so well within as without; but, by your leave, I'll try. 

 Why, this Js better and better, fine light^ finp wainscoted, and 

 all exceeding neat, with a marble table and all in the middle !~ 



PlSC. Enough, sir, enough; I have laid open to you the part 

 where I can worst defend myself, and now you attack me there. 

 Come, boy, set two chairs ; and whilst I am taking a pipe of 

 tobacco, which is always my breakfast, we will, if you please, 

 talk of some other subject. 



VlAT. None fitter, then, sir, for the time and place, than those 

 instructions you promised. 



PlSC. I begin to doubt, by something I discover in you, 

 whether I am able to instruct you or no; though, if you are 

 really a stranger to our clear northern rivers, I still think I can : 

 and therefore, since it is yet too early in the morning at this 

 time of the year, to-day being but the seventh of March, to cast 

 a fly upon the water, if you will direct me what kind of fishing 

 for a trout I shall read you a lecture on, I am willing and ready 

 to obey you. 



VlAT. Why^sjiyif you will so far oblige me, and that it may 

 not-be too troublesome to you, I would entreat you woul_d_ run 

 thrQug^lJthe whole bo3y oflfy ~innht"will"hot conceaHrom you 

 that I am so far in love with you, your courtesy, and pretty 

 Mor_eJL_a_nd seat, as to resolve to stay with you long enough by 

 intervals, for I will not oppress you to hear all you can say upon 

 that subject. 



PlSC. You cannot oblige me more than by such a promise : 

 and therefore, without more ceremony, I will begin to tell you 



