OUE FRIENDS 207 



close friendship, and I would never have thought 

 of it as such had I not seen that he regarded it 

 as unwarrantable self-praise. 



I have never known a more simple, kind- 

 hearted, agreeable, and lovable gentleman than 

 this broken-down sporting man and gambler. 

 I loved him as a brother; and though he has 

 passed out of my life, I still love the memory 

 of his genial face, his courtesy, his unselfish 

 friendship, more than words can express. A 

 tender heart and a gentle spirit found strange 

 housing in a body given over to reckless prodi- 

 gality. The combination, tempered by time and 

 exhaustion, showed nothing that was not lov- 

 able ; and it is scant praise to say that Sir 

 Thomas was much to me. 



He was just as acceptable to Polly. No 

 woman could fail to appreciate the homage 

 which he never failed to show to the wife and 

 mother. Many winter evenings at Four Oaks 

 were made brighter by his presence, and we 

 grew to expect him at least three nights each 

 week. His plate was placed on our round table 

 these nights, and he rarely failed to use it ; and 

 the B. & S. bottles were near at hand, and his 

 favorite brand of cigars within easy reach. 



" I light a < baccy ' by your permission, Mrs. 

 Williams," and a courtly bow accompanied the 

 words. 



At 9.30 William came to bring Sir Tom 

 home. The leave-taking was always formal with 



