190 CARPE DIEM 



" Go as straight as you can through the wood 

 in that direction, and you will come to a cottage 

 where there is plenty of hot tea, a loaf of bread, and 

 some butter awaiting you. I never dined better in 

 all my life, and I forgive you for only bringing two 

 pies." 



I obeyed his directions, and the tea certainly was 

 refreshing, although I could not get any sugar with it. 



It was time to be going. We counted our fish. 

 1 had eleven (my usual number at that pool, by the 

 way), and A. had ten, most from two to three 

 pounds each, but one or two heavier. We selected 

 the best, and as many as we could conveniently 

 carry, and gave the rest to some cottagers. 



From the shooting-box, which is at the top of the 

 hill, and is, by the way, in a state of dilapidation, 

 we had a most magnificent view, one well worth the 

 walk to see. It was a view which embraced Shrop- 

 shire, Cheshire, Montgomeryshire, Denbighshire, and 

 Merionethshire. In the vividly green valley below 

 us the little village of Llansilin slumbered, scarcely 

 noticeable were it not for the dark and massy yew- 

 trees in its churchyard. 



From the rocks farther on we saw a pretty sight. 

 A fox was standing on a stone, and on a sloping 

 slab beneath her five cubs were sprawling and gam- 

 bolling about like a lot of Newfoundland puppies. 



