74 A DAY ON THE TEME 



fall of water, the picturesque mill, the abrupt 

 cliff, and the bank, covered with noble oaks, 

 above the river, compose a scene such as I have 

 rarely beheld in this island." 



Yesterday was a glorious day for Charlie and 

 me; it seemed to rain everywhere except on 

 the particular stretch of the Teme to which we 

 had special access. We had a six-mile drive 

 across a lovely country, and found the river 

 Teme teeming with fine grayling. In the present 

 state of my health I could not venture to wade, 

 and so I lost many a good chance. Charlie is a 

 nipper, and wades, and with three flies on his 

 cast and the sunk-fly process brought home ten 

 brace of fine grayling, from six ounces to a 

 pound, most of them big ones, which is about 

 as large as they run. I am sorry to say that 

 with my single dry fly, and fishing from the 

 bank, I did not do much. Dry fly as against 

 wet did not shine on that occasion. It was 

 really a most charming little outing, and one I 

 shall not soon forget. I would describe the 

 place, the river and scenery, but that would be 

 telling, and I must not give even a hint, on 

 penalty of never getting another ticket. I may 

 say that the scenery on this part of the Teme 



