six
o’clock
He did not look upon Nature with the eye of imagination ; perhaps a railroad , had it then and there existed , would have pleased him better than the hanging woods , the shadowy valleys , and the changeful river that from time to time beautified the landscape on either side the road . But , after all , there is a vast deal of hypocrisy in the affected admiration for Nature ; -- and I do n't think one person in a hundred cares for what lies by the side of a road , so long as the road itself is good , hills levelled , and turnpikes cheap . It was midnoon , and many miles had been passed , when the banker turned down a green lane and quickened his pace . At the end of about three-quarters of an hour , he arrived at a little solitary inn , called `` The Angler , '' -- put up his horse , ordered his dinner at six o'clock -- begged to borrow a basket to hold his fish -- and it was then apparent that a longish cane he had carried with him was capable of being extended into a fishing-rod . He fitted in the various joints with care , as if to be sure no accident had happened to the implement by the journey -- pried anxiously into the contents of a black case of lines and flies -- slung the basket behind his back , and while his horse was putting down his nose and whisking about his tail , in the course of those nameless coquetries that horses carry on with hostlers -- our worthy brother of the rod strode rapidly through some green fields , gained the riverside , and began fishing with much semblance of earnest interest in the sport . He had caught one trout , seemingly by accident -- for the astonished fish was hooked up on the outside of its jaw -- probably while in the act , not of biting , but of gazing at , the bait , when he grew discontented with the spot he had selected ; and , after looking round as if to convince himself that he was not liable to be disturbed or observed -LRB- a thought hateful to the fishing fraternity -RRB- , he stole quickly along the margin , and finally quitting the riverside altogether , struck into a path that , after a sharp walk of nearly all hour , brought him to the door of a cottage . He knocked twice , and then entered of his own accord -- nor was it till the summer sun was near its decline that the banker regained his inn .