Yesterday afternoon margot and i were having a bath here and i said; "supposing we were to take the children who are walking past, one by one, hoist them up with a fishing rod, give them each a bath, wash and mend their clothes, and then. which best explains the meaning of the passage

Margot and an unnamed narrator are musing about a fantastical scenario in which they catch neighborhood children with a fishing pole, bathe them, mend their clothes and then presumably return them to their previous occupation of walking by Margot's house. Though altruistic in nature, Margot and the narrator might find the children less than eager to participate in this spontaneous bath.