MUSIC. lOl 



must be allowed to leave with the ladies. This was one of 

 the many signs and results of his constant weakness and ill- 

 health. Half an hour more or less conversation would make 

 to him the difference of a sleepless night, and of the loss 

 perhaps of half the next day's work. 



After dinner he played backgammon with my mother, two 

 games being played every night ; for many years a score of 

 the games which each won was kept, and in this score he took 

 the greatest interest. He became extremely animated over 

 these games, bitterly lamenting his bad luck and exploding 

 with exaggerated mock-anger at my mother's good fortune. 



After backgammon he read some scientific book to him- 

 self, either in the drawing-room, or, if much talking was going 

 on, in the study. 



In the evening, that is, after he had read as much as his 

 strength would allow, and before the reading aloud began, he 

 would often lie on the sofa and listen to my mother playing 

 the piano. He had not a good ear, yet in spite of this he had 

 a true love of fine music. He used to lament that his enjoy- 

 ment of music had become dulled with age, yet within my 

 recollection, his love of a good tune was strong. I never 

 heard him hum more than one tune, the Welsh song " Ar hyd 

 y nos," which he went through correctly ; he used also, I be- 

 lieve, to hum a little Otaheitan song. From his want of ear 

 he was unable to recognize a tune when he heard it again, but 

 he remained constant to what he liked, and would often say, 

 when an old favourite was played, " That's a fine thing ; what 

 is it ? " He liked especially parts of Beethoven's symphonies, 

 and bits of Handel. He made a little list of all the pieces 

 which he especially liked among those which my mother 

 played — giving in a few words the impression that each one 

 made on him — but these notes are unfortunately lost. He 

 was sensitive to differences in style, and enjoyed the late Mrs. 

 Vernon Lushington's playing intensely, and in June 1881, 

 when Hans Richter paid a visit at Down, he was roused to 

 strong enthusiasm by his magnificent performance on the 

 piano. He much enjoyed good singing, and was moved al- 



