160 Memoir of Tom Smith, 



thinks that even Masters of fox-hounds must 

 shortly cross their high-bred hounds, and 

 thereby regain noses. 



In the dining-room there was a large pic- 

 ture, of which Sir Tatton told an anecdote in 

 his peculiar quaint way. It represented his 

 father and mother, with himself standing in 

 front, dressed in a drab frock-coat, red waist- 

 coat, and top-boots, and was the production of 

 the best artist of the day. When it came 

 home, there was, of course, a muster of the 

 tenants to see it. All agreed that the like- 

 nesses of the old baronet and his lady were ex- 

 cellent, but, for some cause or other, the third 

 figure seemed to puzzle them ; probably the 

 costume was not quite that which they were 

 accustomed to see the young squire in. At 

 last a light seemed to dawn on one of the 

 party, and he cried out, ^^Oh! it's their old 

 groom." Young Tatton was standing by, and 

 said, with a polite bow, ''Yes, it's their Mth- 

 ful servant, Tat," to the dire confusion of the 



