for a while
not the exasperated husband, or the affectionate brother, or the amiable
grandson, but the shrewd, brisk banker, engaged entirely with his
business. Presently he had occasion to go on 'Change, or elsewhere, to
confer with brother-capitalists, and in Cornhill behold he meets his
uncle, Colonel Newcome, riding towards the India House, a groom behind
him.

The Colonel springs off his horse, and Barnes greets him in the blandest
manner. "Have you any news for me, Barnes?" cries the officer.

"The accounts from Calcutta are remarkably good. That cotton is of
admirable quality really. Mr. Briggs, of our house, who knows cotton as
well as any man in England, says----"

"It's not the cotton, my dear Sir Barnes," cries the other.

"The bills are perfectly good; there is no sort of difficulty about
them. Our house will take half a million of 'em, if----"

"You are talking of bills, and I am thinking of poor Clive," the Colonel
interposes. "I wish you could give me good news for him, Barnes."

"I wish I could. I heartily trust that I may some day. My good wishes
you know are enlisted in your son's behalf," cries Barnes, gallantly.
"Droll place to talk sentiment in--Cornhill, isn't it? But Ethel, as I
told you, is in the hands of higher powers, and we must conciliate Lady
Kew if we can. She has always spoken very highly of Clive; very."

"Had I not best go to her?" asks the Colonel.

"Into the North, my good sir? She is--ah--she is travelling about. I
think you had best depend upon me, Good morning. In the City we have
no hearts, you know, Colonel. Be sure you shall hear from me as soon as
Lady Kew and Ethel come to town."

And the banker hurried away, shaking his finger-tips to his uncle, and
leaving the good Colonel utterly surprised at his statements. For the
fact is, the Colonel knew that Lady Kew was in London, having been
apprised of the circumstance in the simplest manner in the world,
namely, by a note from Miss Ethel, which billet he had in his pocket,
whilst he was talking with the head of the house of Hobson Brothers:--

"My dear uncle" (the note said), "how glad I shall be to see you!
How shall I thank you for the beautiful shawl, and the kind, kind
remembrance of me? I found your present yesterday evening, on our
arrival from the North. We are only here en passant, and see nobody in
Queen Street but Barnes, who has just been about business, and he does
not count, you know. I shall go and see Cla