plain. But if you will leave these fish with Mrs. Pescod from me I shall be very grateful. It will save me ten minutes." I agreed to distribute his favours for him. I did not see why Mrs. Pescod should go without trout because I resented his monstrous request. You will recollect, perhaps, that I had missed the rise by which he had profited. No decent man in his position could have suggested to a man in mine the cartage of his successes. But I hope I do not need to labour this point.
Purfling went away, leaving in my creel two noble trout of about 2 lb. each. The fellow can surely fish.
Mrs. Pescod's supper was provided, but the dinner of my wife, two hungry fellows, and myself (and I had had no tea) still consisted of a meagre chicken. It behoved me to bestir myself.
I bestirred myself accordingly—as far as the run below the mill pool, which I reached by half-past six. At this time, I knew, Chavender and Wickham must be already in the house, or at any rate approaching it with frightful velocity. On my way I had risen and failed to catch one young grayling. The surface of the run below the mill pool remained unbroken during the five anxious minutes which I spent in scanning
