e, and disappointment, so fierce and incoherent that the
lady to whom they were addressed did not repeat them to her confidante.
Only she generously charged Laura to remember, if ever she heard the
matter talked of in the world, that it was Lord Farintosh's family which
broke off the marriage; but that his lordship had acted most kindly and
generously throughout the whole affair.

He went back to London in such a state of fury, and raved so wildly
amongst his friends against the whole Newcome family, that many men knew
what the case really was. But all women averred that that intriguing
worldly Ethel Newcome, the apt pupil of her wicked old grandmother, had
met with a deserved rebuff; that, after doing everything in her power to
catch the great parti, Lord Farintosh, who had long been tired of her,
flung her over, not liking the connexion; and that she was living out
of the world now at Newcome, under the pretence of taking care of that
unfortunate Lady Clara's children, but really because she was pining
away for Lord Farintosh, who, as we all know, married six months
afterwards.

CHAPTER LX. In which we write to the Colonel

Deeming that her brother Barnes had cares enough of his own presently at
hand, Ethel did not think fit to confide to him the particulars of her
interview with Lord Farintosh; nor even was poor Lady Anne informed that
she had lost a noble son-in-law. The news would come to both of them
soon enough, Ethel thought; and indeed, before many hours were over, it
reached Sir Barnes Newcome in a very abrupt and unpleasant way. He had
dismal occasion now to see his lawyers every day; and on the day after
Lord Farintosh's abrupt visit and departure, Sir Barnes, going into
Newcome upon his own unfortunate affairs, was told by his attorney, Mr.
Speers, how the Marquis of Farintosh had slept for a few hours at the
King's Arms, and returned to town the same evening by the train. We may
add, that his lordship had occupied the very room in which Lord Highgate
had previously slept; and Mr. Taplow recommends the bed accordingly, and
shows pride it with to this very day.

Much disturbed by this intelligence, Sir Barnes was making his way to
his cheerless home in the evening, when near his own gate he overtook
another messenger. This was the railway porter, who daily brought
telegraphic messages from his uncle and the London bank. The message of
that day was,--"Consols, so-and-so. French Rentes, so much. Hig