178 Memoir of Tom Smith. 



anything ; lie is an autlior, an artist, an archi- 

 tect ; he is, in fact, everything, but more par- 

 ticularly — as all the T\^orlcl knows — a first-rate 

 sportsman, ■<ind a capital fellow to boot." 



^^ And have you long known this incom- 

 parable mortal ?" inquired my companion. 



'^ Yes, many years ; and our acquaintance 

 commenced in rather a curious manner, which 

 I will tell you, if you feel inclined to listen to 

 a 'yarn.' " 



Staveley expressed himself desirous of hear- 

 ing my story ; which I commenced as follows, 

 in the old " story-telling" strain : 



'' Many years ago, I used to hunt with the 

 Hambledon hounds; I was in those days 

 younger, and rode rather wilder than I now 

 do in my old age. "Well, I had then a most 

 remarkable mare — I called her ' Yery Lively' 

 — and lively enough, in all conscience, she 

 was. ]^o day was too long for her, and no 

 jump too high, provided she was allowed to 

 take it in her ovrn way — always at a fly ; 



