148 In Pursuit of the Trout 



gotten. New bread in London gives me 

 hideous indigestion ; but I can eat it steam- 

 ing hot from the oven there without its 

 doing me the least harm. Well, these acces- 

 sories in themselves help to make as it were 

 a pleasant setting. But the stream itself, 

 where it runs glimmering through the park 

 that surrounds that mysterious old house, 

 which is only visited once in every five 

 years by its owner — what a picture it is ! 

 At one point, and at one only, can you 

 get a peep at it from outside. A high and 

 very thick hedge shuts out all view, save 

 where the road crosses the stream. I can- 

 not cross that bridge on my way from 

 the quiet little station to the stretch of 

 water a mile or so above, without leaning 

 over for five minutes or so to see what is 

 going on in the park with the ' immemorial 

 elms' and oaks ; and, if it be not too dark, I 

 always take another peep coming back in the 

 cool of the evening. The trees for a little 

 way from the bridge form a regular avenue, 

 uniting over the stream, which presently 



