SECOND DAY.] FLIES. 19 



POIET. We are deeply indebted to him ; and I 

 hardly know how we can accept his offer, without 

 laying ourselves under too great an obligation. 



HAL. Pear not: he is as noble-minded a man as 

 ever delighted in good offices; and so benevolent, 

 that I am sure he will be almost as happy in knowing 

 you are amused, as you can be in your sport ; and he 

 hopes for an additional satisfaction in the pleasure of 

 your conversation. 



POIET. So let it be. 



HAL. I will take you to the house; you shall 

 make your bow, and then you will be all free to follow 

 your own fancies. Bemember, the dinner hour is 

 five ; the dressing bell rings at half-past four ; be 

 punctual to this engagement, from which you will be 

 free at seven. 



POIET. This is really a very charming villa scene, 

 I may almost say, a pastoral scene. The meadows 

 have the verdure which even the Londoners enjoy as 

 a peculiar feature of the English landscape. The 

 river is clear, and has all the beauties of a trout stream 

 of the larger size, there rapid, and here still, and 

 there tumbling in foam and fury over abrupt dams 

 upon clean gravel, as if pursuing a natural course. 

 And that island with its poplars and willows, and the 

 flies making it their summer paradise, and its little 

 fishing-house, are all in character; and if not ex- 



c 2 



