OUR 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. 
“T light.a ‘bacey’ by your permission, Mrs. 
Williams,” and a courtly bow accompanied the 
words. 
At 9.30 William came to bring Sir Tom 
home. The leaye-taking was always formal with 
