"Oh, we'll take care of that, auntie," said Scarlett merrily. "Trust to your boatman, ma'am, and he will take you safe.--What say, Arthur?" "I say, are there any large fish here?" "Large fish, my boy? Wait a moment.--Pull, Jack." They rowed close up to a clump of piles, driven in to save the bank from the constant washing of the stream.--"Now, look down, old fellow," continued Scarlett, "close in by the piles. It's getting too late to see them well. It ought to be when the sun is high.--Well, what can you see?" "A number of dark shadowy forms close to bottom," said Prayle. "Ay, shoals of them. Big barbel, some as long as your arm, my lad--ten and twelve pounders. Come down some day and we'll have a good try for them." "Don't go too near, dear," cried Aunt Sophia. "All right, auntie.--Here, Jack, take the boat-hook, and hold on a moment while I get out the cigars and matches.--Ladies, may we smoke? Our work is done." "A bad habit, James," said Aunt Sophia, shaking her head at him. "But he has so few bad habits, aunt," said Lady Scarlett, smiling. "And you encourage him in those, my dear," said Aunt Sophia.--"There sir, go on." "Won't you have a cigar, Arthur?" "Thank you; no," said Prayle, with a grave smile. "I never smoke." "Good young man!" said the doctor to himself as he lit up. "Man after your own heart, aunt," said Scarlett merrily, as he resumed his oar; and for the next half-hour they rowed about over the swiftly running water, now dyed with many a hue, the reflections from the gorgeous clouds that hovered over the ruddy sinking sun. The dancing wavelets flashed and sparkled with orange and gold: the shadows grew more intense, beneath the trees; while in one portion of the weir, where a pile or two had rotted away, the water ran down in one smooth soft curve, like so much molten metal poured from some mighty furnace into the hissing, boiling stream below. "I never saw it so beautiful before," cried Scarlett excitedly. "It is lovely indeed.--Look, aunt.--Why, Arthur, it was worth a journey to see." "The place is like one seen in some vision of the night," said Prayle softly. "Hah! yes," exclaimed the doctor thoughtfully; "it is enough to tempt a man to give up town." "Do, old fellow, and you shall have us Impatients," cried Scarlett, "We never want a doctor, and I hope we never shall." "Amen to that!" said Scales, in a low, serious tone. "Ah!" he continued, "what a pity it seems that we have so few of these heavenly days." "Oh, I don't know," said Scarlett. "Makes us appreciate them all the more." "I think these things are best as they are," said Prayle in his soft dreamy tenor. "Yes; all is for the best." Lady Scarlett looked at him uneasily, and Aunt Sophia tightened her lips. "I should like to duck that fellow, and fish him out with the boat-hook," thought the doctor.