What do you think of that for an October codling ?" They all approached the scales and admired the fish.

Sir Henry stood with his hands in his pockets, listening to their comments.
"You are enjoying your stay here, I hope, Mr.Lessingham ?" he enquired.
"One could scarcely fail to enjoy even the briefest holiday in so delightfully hospitable a place," was the somewhat measured reply.
"You're by way of being a fisherman yourself, I hear ?" Sir Henry continued.
"In a very small way," Lessingham acknowledged.

"I have been out once or twice." "With Ben Oates, eh ?" "I believe that was the man's name." Philippa glanced up from her work with a little exclamation of surprise.
"I had no idea of that, Mr.Lessingham.Whatever made you choose Ben Oates?
He is a most disgraceful person." "It was entirely by accident," Lessingham explained.

"I met him on the front.

It happened to be a fine morning, and he was rather pressing in his invitation." "I'm afraid he didn't show you much sport," Sir Henry observed.