s attending these banquets.
Mr. and Mrs. Hobson Newcome, in Bryanstone Square, gave also signs of
rejoicing at their niece's marriage. They had a grand banquet followed
by a tea, to which latter amusement the present biographer was invited.
Lady Anne, and Lady Kew and her granddaughter, and the Baronet and his
wife, and my Lord Highgate and Sir George Tufto attended the dinner; but
it was rather a damp entertainment. "Farintosh," whispers Sam Newcome,
"sent word just before dinner that he had a sore throat, and Barnes was
as sulky as possible. Sir George wouldn't speak to him, and the Dowager
wouldn't speak to Lord Highgate. Scarcely anything was drank," concluded
Mr. Sam, with a slight hiccup. "I say, Pendennis, how sold Clive will
be!" And the amiable youth went off to commune with others of his
parents' guests.

Thus the Newcomes entertained the Farintoshes, and the Farintoshes
entertained the Newcomes. And the Dowager Countess of Kew went from
assembly to assembly every evening, and to jewellers and upholsterers
and dressmakers every morning; and Lord Farintosh's town-house was
splendidly re-decorated in the newest fashion; and he seemed to grow
more and more attentive as the happy day approached, and he gave away
all his cigars to his brother Rob; and his sisters were delighted with
Ethel, and constantly in her company, and his mother was pleased with
her, and thought a girl of her spirit and resolution would make a good
wife for her son: and select crowds flocked to see the service of plate
at Handyman's, and the diamonds which were being set for the lady; and
Smee, R.A., painted her portrait, as a souvenir for mamma when Miss
Newcome should be Miss Newcome no more; and Lady Kew made a will leaving
all she could leave to her beloved granddaughter, Ethel, daughter of
the late Sir Brian Newcome, Baronet; and Lord Kew wrote an affectionate
letter to his cousin, congratulating her, and wishing her happiness with
all his heart; and I was glancing over The Times newspaper at breakfast
one morning; when I laid it down with an exclamation which caused my
wife to start with surprise.

"What is it?" cries Laura, and I read as follows:--

"'Death of the Countess Dowager of Kew.--We regret to have to announce
the awfully sudden death of this venerable lady. Her ladyship, who had
been at several parties of the nobility the night before last, seemingly
in perfect health, was seized with a fit as she was waiting for her
carri