OLD JOHN, TIM, & OTHERS 173 



a matter of general taste as well as a 

 matter of specific opinions ; and that 

 a main purpose in the critical attitude 

 towards the book was to arrest the down- 

 fall of Toryism by preventing the spread 

 of bad style. A fine purpose to put The 



D C to ! Reactionary pro- 



pagandism in disguise : Jesuitical, it 

 might almost be said. But to the cold 

 facts, H. W. M. continued, speaking 

 with gentle impetuosity : Was the Dry 

 Fly right, or was it not right ? " Does 



H say that it is the best way of 



catching trout ? " I asked. " He says 

 more than that," the Editor answered : 

 "he says that on chalk -streams it is the 

 only way." 



The discussion might have gone on 

 rather aimlessly but for a fortunate mes- 

 sage from T J B , who had 



friends at dinner across the room. The 

 port was very good : if H. W. M. and I 

 had finished our meal, wouldn't we join 

 him ? We did ; and B. asked what was 

 the trouble we had been considering so 



