the City, where he keeps my account. I
say, I have nothing to do with him, or all the Newcomes under the sun.
Why, one of them is a painter, and will paint my dog, Ratcatcher, by
Jove! or my horse, or my groom, if I give him the order. Do you think I
care for any one of the pack? It's not the fault of the Marchioness of
Farintosh that her family is not equal to mine. Besides two others in
England and Scotland, I should like to know what family is? I tell
you what, Hench. I bet you five to two, that before an hour is over my
mother will be here, and down on her knees to me, begging me to break
off this engagement."

"And what will you do, Farintosh?" asks Henchman, slowly, "Will you
break it off?"

"No!" shouts the Marquis. "Why shall I break off with the finest girl in
England--and the best-plucked one, and the cleverest and wittiest, and
the most beautiful creature, by Jove, that ever stepped, for no fault
of hers, and because her sister-in-law leaves her brother, who I know
treated her infernally? We have talked this matter over at home before.
I wouldn't dine with the fellow; though he was always asking me; nor
meet, except just out of civility, any of his confounded family. Lady
Anne is different. She is a lady, she is. She is a good woman: and Kew
is a most respectable man, though he is only a peer of George III.'s
creation, and you should hear how he speaks of Miss Newcome, though she
refused him. I should like to know who is to prevent me marrying Lady
Anne Newcome's daughter?"

"By Jove, you are a good-plucked fellow, Farintosh--give me your hand,
old boy," says Henchman.

"Heh! am I? You would have said, give me your hand, old boy, whichever
way I determined, Hench! I tell you, I ain't intellectual, and that sort
of thing. But I know my rank, and I know my place; and when a man of
my station gives his word, he sticks to it, sir; and my lady, and my
sisters, may go on their knees all round; and, by Jove, I won't flinch."

The justice of Lord Farintosh's views was speedily proved by the
appearance of his lordship's mother, Lady Glenlivat, whose arrival put
a stop to a conversation which Captain Francis Henchman has often
subsequently narrated. She besought to see her son in terms so urgent,
that the young nobleman could not be denied to his parent; and, no
doubt, a long and interesting interview took place, in which Lord
Farintosh's mother passionately implored him to break off a match upon
which he was as