Peaceful, graceful, complete English country life and country houses;
everywhere finish and polish; Nature perfected by the wealth and art
of peaceful centuries! Why should I exchange you, even for the sight
of all the Alps, for bad roads, bad carriages, bad inns, bad food,
bad washing, bad beds, and fleas, fleas, fleas?
Let that last thought be enough. There may be follies, there may be
sorrows, there may be sins--though I know there are no very heavy
ones--in that fine old house opposite: but thanks to the genius of
my native land, there are at least no fleas.
Think of that, wandering friend; and of this also, that you will find
your warm bath ready when you go to bed to-night, and your cold one
when you rise to-morrow morning; and in content and thankfulness,
stay in England, and be clean.
* * * *
Here, then, let us lounge a full two hours, too comfortable and too
tired to care for fishing, till the hall-bell rings for that dinner
which we as good anglers will despise. Then we will make our way to
the broad reaches above the house.
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