216 DAYS AND NIGHTS OF SALMON FISHING 



but no Mr. Tintern. A little while after I heard a 

 languid voice say, 'Want some hot water." A 

 quarter of an hour elapsed, when I heard the same 

 words again ; after about a similar interval of time 

 I heard, " Want a stocking " ; and then, after a 

 long pause, " Want a stocking " again. I was out 

 of all patience ; so I went up to entreat the man of 

 wants to use more expedition, as we were losing 

 a very fine morning. 



I did not find him in his room, but sitting down 

 half dressed on the upper stair near it, looking at 

 his sketch-book. He had not shaved, as his hint 

 for hot water, having been uttered in a mild tone, 

 had not been taken. He did not so much care 

 about shaving, he said, but he could not go out with 

 only one stocking on, and he could not find the 

 other, and unluckily he had sent his dirty ones to 

 be washed. It certainly was true that one of his 

 legs was bare ; and, after a fruitless hunt, we had 

 nothing left for it but to send into the town and buy 

 a fresh pair. After they arrived, however, he dis- 

 covered that there was no particular necessity for 

 such a step, as he had favoured one leg at the 

 expense of the other, by putting both stockings 

 on it. 



I had already breakfasted, and my impatience 

 increased ; so it was agreed that my friend should 

 take our host's little pony, and join me above 

 Melrose Bridge. When I got to the spot, Tom 

 Purdie, who was usually very forward on these occa- 

 sions, was not arrived ; but I descried Mr. Tintern 

 at a distance, not upon the innkeeper's pony, but 



