76 REMINISCENCES. [Ch. IV. 



Mrs. Wedgwood, of Maer, wMcli he valued much— but he 

 rarely carried it, because it tempted him to take too many 

 pinches. In one of his early letters he speaks of having 

 given up snuff for a month, and describes himself as feeling 

 " most lethargic,* stupid, and melancholy." Our former neigh- 

 bour and clergyman, Mr. Brodie Innes, tells me that at one 

 time my father made a resolve not to take snuff, except away 

 from home, " a most satisfactory arrangement for me," he adds, 

 " as I kept a box in my study, to which there was access from 

 the garden without summoning servants, and I had more 

 frequently, than might have been otherwise the case, the 

 privilege of a few minutes' conversation with my dear friend." 

 He generally took snuff from a jar on the hall-table, because 

 having to go this distance for a pinch was a slight check ; tho 

 clink of the lid of the snuff-jar was a very familiar sound. 

 Sometimes when he was in the drawing-room, it would occur 

 to him that the study fire must be burning low, and when 

 one of us offered to see after it, it would turn out that ho also 

 wished to get a pinch of snuff. 



Smoking he only took to permanently of late years, though 

 on his Pampas rides he learned to smoke with the Gauckos, 

 and I have heard him speak of the great comfort of a cup of 

 mate and a cigarette when he halted after a long ride and 

 was unable to get food for some time. 



He came down at four o'clock to dress for his walk, and 

 he was so regular that one might be quite certain it was 

 within a few minutes of four when his descending steps were 

 heard. 



From about half -past four to half-past five he worked ; then 

 he came to the drawing-room, and was idle till it was time 

 (about six) to go up for another rest with novel-reading and a 

 cigarette. 



Latterly he gave up late dinner, and had a simple tea at 

 half-past seven (while we had dinner), with an egg or a small 

 piece of meat. After dinner he never stayed in the room, 

 and used to apologise by saying he was an old woman who 

 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 



