CHAPTER XI. 



"UNLUCKY DAYS IN WALES. 



" 'Tis not in mortals to command success, 

 But we'll do more, Sempronius ! We'll deserve it." 



Amongst the full tale of unlucky days that have fallen to 

 my share the three most unlucky were in the Principality. 

 Number one was a February day on the Usk ; number two a 

 Whit-Monday on Lake Ogwen ; and number three a half- 

 holiday on Llangorst Pool. 



When you are the fortunate holder of an invitation to fish 

 a stream worth the fishing to an extent which makes the in- 

 vitation equal in your eyes to its weight in gold, you 

 naturally rejoice, and prepare to live up to your privileges. 

 Placed in circumstances which make it doubtful whether 

 such ati opportunity will for many a long day again be 

 offered, wind and weather are not likely to stand in your 

 way. Yet, if there is anything more absolutely hopeless than 

 the prospect of inducing a trout to look at a fly on a frosty 

 morning, not five days beyond January, with ice on the 

 puddles, and a thick garment of hoar upon the shoulders of 

 the mountains, I should like to hear what that prospect is. 

 The opening of my February day on the Usk was enough to 

 make one exclaim with cynical Byron : — 



" No — as soon 

 Seek roses in December, ice in June ; 



Q 2 



