Devil's Brook in the Land Accursed. In
fishing, as in other things, a good deal depends on your state of mind.

That evening I dressed for dinner, as far as I could, like a gentleman;
not that any visitors were likely to drop in, but I thought it due to
the occasion. Jim, having plenty of leisure at command, and noting my
manoeuvres, did the same. He ate little, but I paid due attention to the
trout and claret, and took my time to it; though we do not have a lot of
courses and ceremony at meals up here, nor are such necessary. Then we
settled ourselves in easy chairs before the great fireplace, where pine
logs were roaring: the nights are cold now, and this is one comfort of
these out-of-the-way places, where fuel is plenty.

As soon as he had a chance, he began. "There is some mystery about this,
Bob. You wouldn't answer my question this morning."

"Now that I have dined, James, I'll answer any questions you
like--provided they are such as may fitly be put to the father of a
family. So fire away."

"First then, how do you come to know so much about this?"

"Because I was there. O, not eavesdropping, not as a spy--that is out of
my line; but purely, and luckily as it proves, by accident." And I told
him all about it. I will not say that his jaw dropped, but his facial
apparatus elongated.

"Then Cl--she knows that you know?"

"Not a word. What do you take me for? How could I tell her?"

"But--the others know?"

"Certainly not. You have the most extraordinary notions, Hartman. It was
her secret, not theirs. If you had been in my place, perhaps you would
have written to the papers, or told the story at family prayers. Can't
you see that it was impossible for me to let her know till I had had it
out with you?"

"And you have stood by me, knowing all this--you are still my friend?"

"Well, if I had had merely myself to consider, my natural loathing and
contempt for the beast, ape, idiot and scoundrel who was capable of such
conduct might have led me to extremities. O, I endorse all the
compliments you have paid yourself. But there is my interesting family;
the twins have quite a regard for you, and Herbert. And so has my wife;
she doesn't know you as well as I do. And my sister--a superior person,
though too soft-hearted, whom I cherish with a deep fraternal
affection--she has been besieging me with intercessions, and melting my
obduracy with her tears; and that for one who has made all this coil,
and whose qua