100 REMINISCENCES. 



rarely carried it, because it tempted him to take too many 

 pinches. In one of his early letters he speaks of having given 

 up snuff for a month, and describes himself as feeling " most 

 lethargic, stupid, and melancholy." Our former neighbour 

 and clergyman, Mr. Brodie Innes, tells me that at one time 

 my father made a resolve not to take snuff except away from 

 home, "a most satisfactory arrangement for me," he adds, 

 " as I kept a box in my study to which there was access from 

 the garden without summoning servants, and I had more fre- 

 quently, than might have been otherwise the case, the privilege 

 of a few minutes' conversation with my dear friend." He 

 generally took snuff from a jar on the hall table, because 

 having to go this distance for a pinch was a slight check ; the 

 clink of the lid of the snuff jar was a very familiar sound. 

 Sometimes when he was in the drawing-room, it would occur 

 to him that the study fire must be burning low, and when 

 some of us offered to see after it, it would turn out that he 

 also wished to get a pinch of snuff. 



Smoking he only took to permanently of late years, though 

 on his Pampas rides he learned to smoke with the Gauchos, 

 and I have heard him speak of the great comfort of a cup of 

 mate and a cigarette when he halted after a long ride and 

 was unable to get food for some time. 



The reading aloud often sent him to sleep, and he used to 

 regret losing parts of a novel, for my mother went steadily on 

 lest the cessation of the sound might wake him. He came 

 down at four o'clock to dress for his walk, and he was so reg- 

 ular that one might be quite certain it was within a few min- 

 utes of four when his descending steps were heard. 



From about half-past four to half-past five he worked ; 

 then he came to the drawing-room, and was idle till it was 

 time (about six) to go up for another rest with novel-reading 

 and a cigarette. 



Latterly he gave up late dinner, and had a simple tea at 

 half-past seven (while we had dinner), with an egg or a small 

 piece of meat. After dinner he never stayed in the room, 

 and used to apologise by saying he was an old woman, who 



