ARE TROUT CUNNING ? 125 



trout. In fact, the water is peculiarly- 

 adapted to B 's versatile hospitality. 



Besides the stream properly so called, 

 there are two ponds, embanked large 

 pools, fed by the stream itself, from out of 

 which go the forces that drive the wheels 

 of a quaint old mill by the wayside ; and 

 in these ponds are many trout of enormous 

 size, some of them, which are seen now 

 and then, believed to be twelve pounds 

 each. The ponds are what may be called 



B 's reserves against the possibility, 



not to be tolerated for a single convivial 

 moment, that some one of his guests 

 might have the hilarity of dinner blighted 

 by the remembrance of an empty creel. 

 If any of his party looks like being 



defeated on the stream, B knows 



what to do. 



Well, on our setting out after break- 

 fast one morning, he told me that I was 



to keep an eye on Mr. T . Mr. T 



is well advanced in years. His high 

 and esteemed position in the City of 

 London is the result of such a busy 



