34 ANGLING 



at six o'clock a.m. for a hare for our Sunday dinner. Then 

 breakfast, and then three hours in the turnips for a few 

 partridges. We are homely people and dine at half-past one, 

 and this hot weather we dance on the lawn from half-past two 

 until half-past four, but you needn't bring your dress togs, 

 although we shall be pleased for you to take a hop with us. 

 After that we all bathe in the lake, so please take your angling 

 apparatus then to the lower lake, where, if you like, you have 

 my permission to take a dip. It's not very dangerous, 

 being only about a foot of water and seven of deposit 

 call it mud if you like. By-the-bye, I forgot to say that when 

 the family's shooting we lock up the house, and take the butler 

 and other waiter chaps with us to carry the game. I will, 

 therefore, leave the cellar key under the scraper, so you can go 

 in and help yourselves to any fluids you find there. I mention 

 this as, although the pond water is all right for bathing, I 

 shouldn't think its right for drinking purposes if you get dry. 

 I haven't tried it myself, and I wouldn't advise you. It seems 

 to suit the fish and poultry, but it is a bit green down at the 

 lower end. I'll send the drawing-room sofa and a few lounges 

 down to the water side, in case you want a nap in the heat of 

 the day, and if you want a round game you'll find an old pack 

 in the summer-house. By the way about the dancing. We 

 shall be short of music, as the piano went by the carrier's cart 

 this morning to our nearest town to be tuned. Tell friend 

 Humber, who I know is a bit of a musical chap, to bring his 

 'cello with him and he can give us a tune whilst we dance, and 

 it will be useful when you go home for him to carry his bream 

 in. I hope he won't carp at this suggestion. I suppose you will 

 be ploughing next Wednesday, so I shan't see you at Doncaster. 

 Now, Mr. Hopper, good-bye until we meet. 



Yours piscatorially, 



_____ " 



" P.S. Please excuse this short letter." 



But, Mr. Hopper, whom is the letter from? He has forgotten 

 to sign his name. Well, that's just it ; Mr. Hopper wants to 

 know. If you had received a letter like the above, doubtless 



