hings occupying his brain Thomas Newcome artfully invited
Barnes, his nephew, to dinner under pretence of talking of the affairs
of the great B. B. C. With the first glass of wine at dessert, and
according to the Colonel's good old-fashioned custom of proposing
toasts, they drank the health of the B. B. C. Barnes drank the toast
with all his generous heart. The B. B. C. sent to Hobson Brothers and
Newcome a great deal of business, was in a most prosperous condition,
kept a great balance at the bank, a balance that would not be overdrawn,
as Sir Barnes Newcome very well knew. Barnes was for having more of
these bills, provided there were remittances to meet the same. Barnes
was ready to do any amount of business with the Indian bank, or with any
bank, or with any individual, Christian or heathen, white or black, who
could do good to the firm of Hobson Brothers and Newcome. He spoke upon
this subject with great archness and candour: of course as a City man he
would be glad to do a profitable business anywhere, and the B. B. C.'s
business was profitable. But the interested motive which he admitted
frankly as a man of the world, did not prevent other sentiments more
agreeable. "My dear Colonel," says Barnes, "I am happy, most happy, to
think that our house and our name should have been useful, as I know
they have been, in the establishment of a concern in which one of our
family is interested; one whom we all so sincerely respect and regard."
And he touched his glass with his lips and blushed a little, as he bowed
towards his uncle. He found himself making a little speech, indeed; and
to do so before one single person seems rather odd. Had there been a
large company present Barnes would not have blushed at all, but have
tossed off his glass, struck his waistcoat possibly, and looked straight
in the face of his uncle as the chairman; well, he did very likely
believe that he respected and regarded the Colonel.

The Colonel said--"Thank you, Barnes, with all my heart. It is always
good for men to be friends, much more for blood relations, as we are."

"A relationship which honours me, I'm sure!" says Barnes, with a tone of
infinite affability. You see, he believed that Heaven had made him the
Colonel's superior.

"And I am very glad," the elder went on, "that you and my boy are good
friends."

"Friends! of course. It would be unnatural if such near relatives were
otherwise than good friends."

"You have been hospitable to