It is true
that when, at length, the salmon, entirely dead beat, suffered himself
to be led in to the side of the rock, Lionel managed to seize the handle
of the gaff, and this time, making sure of his foothold, got the fish on
land; but this final success in no way atoned for his having so
desperately made a fool of himself. In silence he affixed the bit of
string she gave him to the head and tail of this very pretty
twelve-pounder; and in silence they set out, he carrying the salmon and
she the rod over her shoulder.
"It will be a surprise for old Robert when we meet him," she said,
cheerfully. "But he will wonder how you came to be so drenched."
"Yes," said he, "it will be a pretty story of tomfoolery for them all to
hear. I should like to make a comic drawing of it, if I could. It would
have done capitally for John Leech, among the exploits of Mr. Briggs."
She glanced at him curiously. She knew what he was thinking of--of the
tale that would be told among the keepers and the gillies of his having
soused himself into the Geinig Pool in trying to gaff a fish. And might
not the story find its way from the kennels into the gun-room, and
thence into the drawing-room?
There was no doubt he was thoroughly ashamed and crestfallen, and angry
with himself; and though she talked and chatted just as usual, he was
quite taciturn all the way down the side of the Geinig.
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