OCTOBER 231 



serious circumstances, there is never any 

 use in saying that you cannot do some- 

 thing which you are asked to do. My 

 friend's friend on the Earn would probably 

 be at least as fortunate, during my visit, 

 as myself; but I would go cheerfully and 

 with brave countenance. 



As things turned out, I needed con- 

 siderable courage. The train was late ; 

 and the dog-cart which was to take me 

 from the little station, on the line from 

 Perth to Balquhidder, was later. After a 

 four-miles drive amid heavy rain, I found 

 my host, on the door-step of a fine old 

 mansion, obviously a little put out at the 

 delay. We were to fish that afternoon, 

 and it was now nearly two o'clock. 



I had never seen Prince Bismarck; 

 but I had seen many portraits of him, and 

 my host, save for his bushy auburn hair, 

 seemed to be the Prussian come to life 

 again. The resemblance was not merely 

 physical. My new friend's habit of mind 

 was stern. This I realised during the 

 conversation at our hasty luncheon. 



