192 RIVERSIDE LETTERS xxv 



to come and help him, in some small way, 

 with his pictures. I used to paint acces- 

 sories for him, such as the checks on a 

 Tartan shawl, or other objects of still life. 

 Once I painted a hand holding a horse's 

 bridle, Sir Edwin himself standing as my 

 model. I put in also the yellow water-lilies 

 in his picture of the Fight between the 

 Eagles and Swans. Landseer always went 

 over my work afterwards, with a big brush, 

 to prevent its looking too neat and finished. 

 He generally persuaded me to stay and lunch 

 with him, after which he would sometimes go 

 out with me, take a hansom, and drive all 

 round Hampstead or High gate to cheer and 

 freshen himself up. He could not bear, at 

 these times of depression, to be left alone, and 

 I frequently stayed and dined with him, 

 after which we played at billiards or went 

 to the theatre. T. H. Hills," Dear Hills " 

 as he was always called was Landseer's 

 greatest friend at that time ; he looked after 

 all his business affairs for him and did every- 



