96 



REMINISCENCES. 



clippings as he went round the field. I think he used to feel 

 surprised at himself, when he remembered how bold a rider 

 he had been, and how utterly old age and bad health had 

 taken away his nerve. He would say that riding prevented 

 him thinking much more effectually than walking — that hav- 

 ing to attend to the horse gave him occupation sufficient to 

 prevent any really hard thinking. And the change of scene 

 which it gave him was good for spirits and health. 



Unluckily, Tommy one day fell heavily with him on 

 Keston common. This, and an accident with another horse, 

 upset his nerves, and he was advised to give up riding. 



If I go beyond my own experience, and recall what I 

 have heard him say of his love for sport, &c., I can think of a 

 good deal, but much of it would be a repetition of what is 

 contained in his ' Recollections.* At school he was fond of 

 bat-fives, and this was the only game at which he was skilful. 

 He was fond of his gun as quite a boy, and became a good 

 shot ; he used to tell how in South America he killed twenty- 

 three snipe in twenty-four shots. In telling the story he was 

 careful to add that he thought they were not quite so wild as 

 English snipe. 



Luncheon at Down came after his midday walk ; and 

 here I may say a word or two about his meals generally. He 

 had a boy-like love of sweets, unluckily for himself, since he 

 was constantly forbidden to take them. He was not particu- 

 larly successful in keeping the "vows," as he called them, 

 which he made against eating sweets, and never considered 

 them binding unless he made them aloud. 



He drank very little wine, but enjoyed, and was revived 

 by, the little he did drink. He had a horror of drinking, 

 and constantly warned his boys that any one might be led 

 into drinking too much. I remember, in my innocence as a 

 small boy, asking him if he had been ever tipsy ; and he 

 answered very gravely that he was ashamed to say he had 

 once drunk too much at Cambridge. I was much impressed, 

 so that I know now the place where the question was asked. 



After his lunch, he read the newspaper, lying on the sofa 



