xii A THAMES SALMON 207 



be done in the safe form of conjugal agree- 

 ment. 



It may be that subsequent events found 

 me too ready to take the broad downward 

 path, that I lost for a moment for a good 

 many moments the frank-faced candour 

 that should be an angler's proudest quality. 

 But I would plead that I conscientiously 

 endeavoured to explain to the pair what the 

 paragraph signified, and that they steadily 

 refused to be convinced. Also, as I have 

 mentioned, Amaryllis's eyelashes are not to 

 be disregarded in a discussion. 



" It says salmon," she asserted, with a 

 little toss of her head. " If it meant parrs, 

 or whatever you call them, it would say so." 



" Undoubtedly," William threw in. 



" I don't believe you know anything at 

 all about it," she continued with dignity, 

 " you weren't there. I believe they put in 

 quite big salmon, so that they might begin 

 to fish for them at once. I call it very wise 

 of them, and very stupid of you to be so 

 obstinate." Amaryllis's eyelashes almost 

 touched her cheek, and betokened that their 

 mistress was quite hurt about it. I gave way. 



"You may be right," I admitted. The 



