s, marquis-hunting and the like, disappeared for a
while--and were not, as she sate at that honest man's side. O me! that
we should have to record such charges against Ethel Newcome!

"He was come home for good now? He would never leave that boy he spoiled
so, who was a good boy, too: she wished she could see him oftener. At
Paris, at Madame de Florac's--I found out all about Madame de Florac,
sir," says Miss Ethel, with a laugh--"we used often to meet there; and
here, sometimes, in London. But in London it was different. You know
what peculiar notions some people have; and as I live with grandmamma,
who is most kind to me and my brothers, of course I must obey her, see
her," etc. etc. That the young lady went on talking, defending
herself, whom nobody attacked, protesting her dislike to gaiety and
dissipation--you would have fancied her an artless young country lass,
only longing to trip back to her village, milk her cows at sunrise, and
sit spinning of winter evenings by the fire.

"Why do you come and spoil my tete-a-tete with my uncle, Mr. Pendennis?"
cries the young lady to the master of the house, who happens to enter
"Of all the men in the world the one I like best to talk to! Does he not
look younger than when he went to India? When Clive marries that pretty
little Miss Mackenzie, you will marry again, uncle, and I will be
jealous of your wife."

"Did Barnes tell you that we had met last night, my dear?" asks the
Colonel.

"Not one word. Your shawl and your dear kind note told me you were come.
Why did not Barnes tell us? Why do you look so grave?"

"He has not told her that I was here, and would have me believe her
absent," thought Newcome, as his countenance fell. "Shall I give her my
own message, and plead my poor boy's cause with her?" I know not whether
he was about to lay his suit before her; he said himself subsequently
that his mind was not made up; but at this juncture, a procession of
nurses and babies made their appearance, followed by the two mothers,
who had been comparing their mutual prodigies (each lady having her own
private opinion)--Lady Clara and my wife--the latter for once gracious
to Lady Clara Newcome, in consideration of the infantine company with
which she came to visit Mrs. Pendennis.

Luncheon was served presently. The carriage of the Newcomes drove away,
my wife smilingly pardoning Ethel for the assignation which the young
person had made at our house. And when those ladies wer