2o8 AN ANGLER'S HOURS xn 



eyelashes left the cheek, and Amaryllis 

 looked up brightly. 



" I believe you were only teasing me/' 

 she said, " and to make up, now you admit 

 I am right, you must come and help us 

 catch them." 



" You must, old man/' William added ; 

 u can't do less." 



So it came about that not long afterwards 

 three persons were seated on three Windsor 

 chairs in a punt anchored in a certain back- 

 water of the Thames. Two of them were 

 prepared to give battle to any salmon that 

 might be in the vicinity ; the third (myself) 

 was resignedly acting as philosopher and 

 guide. It had seemed inadvisable to enlist 

 the services of a professional fisherman, for 

 it is not every fisherman who can enter into 

 the spirit of a delicate situation. Amaryllis 

 was confident that she was going to catch a 

 salmon, and she expected a show of confi- 

 dence in those around her. Anything like 

 laughter or even doubt she would never have 

 forgiven. William also would dutifully 

 have shown resentment. 



So I put lobworms on barbel hooks for 

 them, explained (in answer to certain initial 



