May-fly Dreams 149 



widens out into a shallow lake. How abso- 

 lute the quietude there ! One may see a 

 wild-duck, or even a coot, on the water now 

 and again, though the house is within a 

 stone's-throw of the left bank. Sometimes 

 in the distance a gardener may be seen 

 working in the leisurely way that befits 

 such a spot. 



The stable clock seems to chime the ' slow, 

 sweet hours ' as leisurely as the gardener 

 mows a bit of lawn or picks up a weed or 

 two from the gravel drive up to the house. 

 It may be years before the lord and master 

 comes again to the old house for a few days: 

 there is no need to hurry. No doubt the 

 trout, too, are as leisurely as the gardener 

 and the clock. But still there always appear 

 to be a few fish moving, and occasionally 

 one sees with a thrill of excitement a great 

 tail waving gently out the stream, which 

 it is natural to set down as pertaining to a 

 four-pounder. Indeed, from what I have 

 observed once or twice in may-fly time, and 

 from what I have heard said by villagers who 



