This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated.1896 Excerpt: ... CHAPTER CANOE NINETEENTH CONFIDENCES "The rushes bend low where the bright ripples gleam, And sweet are the secrets that sleep in the stream!" The Secrets Of Thb Stream. HpHOUGH Stillmere and Claymer were somewhat late in going to bed, they were up in good time, for they bore in mind the Colonel's injunction that they were to call at the Evenlodes at eleven sharp, and just after ten their voices echoed under the centre arch of Maidenhead Bridge. Ralph leisurely sculled down past the long narrow eyot screening the fish weir, under the arch of the Great Western Railway, having pleasant glimpses of The Fishery on the right and Orkney Lodge on the left, and eventually they sighted the Colonel and his party waiting on the right bank. There were three tawnytresSed, short-petticoated, sable-hosed, snowyfrilled lasses romping about, and there was a smart young man who appeared to be paying a great deal of attention to Phyllis--which made Guy look very stern--and there was a laughing youth--"a giggling fool," Ralph called him in an undertone--who seemed to be having an excellent joke with Dora, and both our friends in the boat thought there was a great deal too much delay in starting. However, at last they were off--the three men rowing. Dora declined to take her usual place in the head of the boat, but a very attractive bouquet of beauties the three passengers made was the opinion of more than one of the rowers. They are soon in Bray Lock and quickly out of it, the Colonel calling their attention to Amerden Bank--now a private house--on the right. "Charming little inn that used to be," said he. "Everything as good as it could be. The landlord, Mr. Franklin, was a real landlord. Looked after everything himself. Wore a nankeen waistcoat and a blue tie, waited on you ...