At last the Doctor reached out his hand for it and said politely:
"Thanks very much; let us look at the things. It's always been a marvel
to me how those flies were put together."
"I make them myself," I said, full of gratitude. And I went on at once
to explain how it was done. It was simple enough: I bought the feathers
and the hooks. They were not well made, but they were only for my own
use. One could get ready-made flies in the shops, and they were
beautiful things.
Edwarda cast one careless glance at me and my book, and went on talking
with her girl friends.
"Ah, here are some of the feathers," said the Doctor. "Look, these are
really fine."
Edwarda looked up.
"The green ones are pretty," she said; "let me look, Doctor."
"Keep them," I cried. "Yes, do, I beg you, now. Two green feathers. Do,
as a kindness, let them be a keepsake."
She looked at them and said:
"They are green and gold, as you turn them in the sun. Thank you, if you
will give me them."
"I should be glad to," I said.
And she took the feathers.
A little later the Doctor handed me the book and thanked me. Then he got
up and asked if it were not nearly time to be getting back.
I said: "Yes, for Heaven's sake. I have a dog tied up at home; look you,
I have a dog, and he is my friend; he lies there thinking of me, and
when I come home he stands with his forepaws at the window to greet me.
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