ARTISTIC TASTE FOR LANDSCAPE. 131 



which, on its return, gently deposited the red in the middle 

 pocket, winning the game for the player, and the bet for 

 his friend. 



The squire loved hospitality, and at Tedworth, during 

 the season, there was a constant succession of visitors. His 

 table, his equipages, his appointments, the domestic ar- 

 rangements of his establishment, were all in first-rate style, 

 and in excellent keeping. To Mrs. Smith's suggestions for 

 the laying out and improvement of the grounds he almost 

 always deferred ; once, however, the squire was determined 

 to have his own way, even as regarded landscape. This 

 occurred at Yaenol, when an artist was commissioned to 

 take a sketch for a picture from a certain spot which 

 Mr. Smith had selected, and which proved that he had an 

 eye for the picturesque. With his usual quick perception, 

 the owner of the property inquired whether a clump of 

 large trees standing immediately before the house, did not 

 obstruct the view ; upon the artist's replying that he did 

 not think their removal would be an improvement, and 

 appealing to'the ladies of the party, among whom of course 

 was Mrs. Smith, for the preservation of the timber, he 

 hastily drew him aside and whispered, " Pray hold your 

 tongue ; I want these trees down, but if you say another 

 word I shall not get leave." Leave was granted, and in less 

 than half an hour, ropes, ladders, saws, and axes, were at 

 work. Mr. Smith knew that ladies do sometimes change 

 their minds, and by the rapidity of his movements he 

 placed the permission beyond the " power of revocation." 

 The event proved the correctness of his decision ; the 

 undulations in a park of 500 acres can now be seen, and the 

 gap, formerly filled by the trees, lets in as fine a prospect 

 as can be seen in North Wales. During the last year of 

 his life, a friend riding with him and Mrs. Smith, by the 

 Tedworth Lodge, observed to the latter, how much nobler 

 an appearance the chestnut trees would present, if all 

 the scrubby bushes lying under them were removed. 



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