Tom Hills 33 



lived ten more, his portrait was taken, sitting in his arm- 

 chair, which was covered (as previously noted) with the 

 skin of his favourite little horse Paddy — a hunter that he 

 once rode three days in a week, and that carried him 

 splendidly for thirteen seasons. The painting is by 

 Sir Francis Grant, and it may certainly be accounted one 

 of his happiest efforts. Most realistic is the depiction of 

 Glory, a favourite hound, by the Oakley Grappler out of 

 Prudence, on whose head Tom's right hand rests. But 

 he had then been out of office for some time, and his 

 green coat, silver buttons, and general costume are 

 suggestive of a connection with harriers. A wonderful 

 critic of the portrait was a sheep-dog, who frequently paid 

 old Tom a visit : on seeing the picture he wagged his tail 

 joyfully, and asked for food with his usual method of 

 petition. It is related, too, that when Tom had a bad 

 cold, and a screen was put between the door and fireplace, 

 the sheep-dog came, covered with mud, so that Tom told 

 his daughter to turn him out. Hearing the well-known 

 voice, he would not be denied, and, entering, jumped on 

 the sofa, stood before the portrait, and wagged his tail, 

 obviously believing that he saw his old friend in the flesh. 

 After a slight misunderstanding, Tom retired from the 

 hunt for three years, and took a public-house at Bletch- 

 ingley, though, according to report, it was not a com- 

 mercial success. To one of his old hunting friends, who 

 called to see him, Tom confessed : " I would rather draw 

 coverts for my old customers than beer for my new." 

 During the Maberly reign over the Old Surrey, Tom 



