Geoffrey Hamlyn

ion on Trout-fishing, on Emi

more with appleblossoms. In warm sheltered southern valleys hedges were already gree

er father's studywindow from the outside, challenged him to come out and take a wal

r aunt, my lo

," said Mary. "I

one of the upper windows, and

too violent a word - say lifted) up, and a be

voice, "pray be careful of the wind

or a walk, Auntie

er, have you got your thic

, "I have not, and I

lecture from the window, cut

don't come;" (jesuitically on his

n as governesses. It's a sheer waste of material. Miss Thornton had been a governess all her life; and now, at the age of five-and-fort

e, "I have brought

m," said Mary. "I couldn't be plagued

r. I fear my lady's end was accelerated by, unfortunately, in her last illness, catching

up, without rule or guidance in feminine matters, could not be brought to comprehend that prim line-and-rule life, of which her aunt was the very impersonation. Nevertheless, she heard what Miss Thorn

ad, and rich vale, intersected by a gleaming river, and all the way down set thick with hamlet, farm, and church. In the dim soft distance rose the two massive towers of a cathedra

wn to sea

aid the Vicar; "and what a fishing day!

ding a grey pony, on which sat a beautiful woman with a child in her arms. Our party immediately moved forward t

a cottage in Drumston, and was a constant visitor on the Vicar; generally calling for the old gentleman to com

shing," said he. "Get your rod and come

g among them before a

the most agreeable invitation that any one w

g fis

adam?" turning

rs. Lee, who has a l

rs. Lee,

ee of E

rs. Lee of E

Jame

ior?" persever

ied Miss Thorn

number on it, like the VOITURIERS. Buckley, lay it before the quarter-sessions. If you say the idea came from a foreigner

Doctor, while the Vicar and Ma

d of fishing myself," said the Vi

ad one to a red brook, for the road and banks are of a brick-colour. And so it does, for presently before them they disce

ys the Major. "What's

nswer," says the Vicar. "Your Sco

nt that the small dun is the man, for the trout seem to think that it is the

o a place where another stream joins the first, making it double its origin

he root at once; not as a greenhorn would, taking a few wide casts over the pool first, thereby standing a chance of hooking a little fish, and ruining

etting his fish ashore, fighting a losing battle with infinite courage, determined that the trout shall remember him, at all events, if he does get

onvenient shallow, and the Vicar puts on his spectacles to see him brought ashore. He scien

a finer fish, take him all in all,

ys the Major. "I shan't get

houldn

the Major. "Do you know ho

ind

s; and how am I to bring up a f

enough for you," said the V

how should I look to find myself at sixty wi

ase," said the Vicar; "you w

ake some money, I am leading an idle life here, and

" said t

To New South Wales. To go into

the Vicar. "And what

know him) showed me a letter from a cousin of his who is making a good deal of money there. Having seen that letter, I was much struck w

stay at home in peace and co

e thought we ought by all mea

deed. And when

ime, I think. N

ely old man I shall be

ill stay behind to see your daughter happily mar

heavily, and th

de a conquest already. Young Hawker seems d

ry deep indeed," said the

ld not allow he

d I never could control her yet. How can I control

ajor, "do you really t

her whole heart. I hav

r a short time, and see if she will forget h

the Vicar. "She is only a farmer's gr

not of good

inst most young fellows. He will reform and be steady. D

table, drunken old man, living in open sin with a gipsy woman of the worst character, by whom George Hawker has been brought up. What an atmosphe

But I cannot bring myself to have a useless quarrel with my daughter merely because I happen to dislike the

Thornton say?"

e may think him vulgar, she would sooner die than commit herself so far as to say so. She has been

when the Vicar, sticking his walking-

han most governesses are, in the highest society in the land. There'll be a home for her when I die. Think of her living in the house with any of the Hawkers; and yet, sir, that

ster most rightly: we s

the beginning, you would say. I dare say he might have; but I am not a man of

led question, then," said the Major, "that

making a scene whenever I spoke against him. I was at one time in hopes that she would have taken a fancy to young Stockbridge;

es, in

very rich. I shall raise my voice against her living in the house with that woman Madge - i

Mary, pretty, and full of fun; there also was the Doctor, smoking and contemplating a new fern; and Miss Thornton, with her gloved-hands folded,

h for himself, which, having got, he at once put into his mouth head foremost. The Doctor

and patience? In Germany we catch them with a net - a far superior way, I assure you. Get any one of the idle young fello

any audacious scoundrel carrying a net within half a mile of it, I'd break his nec

of the sort. When I was a young man, I had a sort of brute instinct, which made me take the same sort

ten shillings for a snipe. And he's hand-

istency in that. But I consider this fly-fishing mania just of a piece with your IDIOTIC, I repeat it, IDIOTIC institution of fox-h

e Major by attacking English sports; but he

and handing up the son and heir, departed home to dinner

ring him to speak of the su

himself, wife,

el

w that, although I love the old man dear

weak as to allow that young fellow to haunt the house,

of it for some time, and that he has spoken to Mary about it, an

kness! So Mary enc

and won't hear a

h a noble young fellow as Stockbridge ready to cut o

y handsome, my dear,

"I call him one of the most

You might begin to undermine this unlucky infatuation of her's; and I am sure, if

rriage, to prevent our good old vicar's last days from being rendered miserable by such a mesalliance

is energy or determination. Why, if my father had been in his place, and such an ill-looking young dog as that came hanging abo

uckley's opinion