so well."

"I think, brother, you might have recollected her too," the Colonel
growled out. His face was blushing; he was quite angry and hurt at what
seemed to him Sir Brian's hardness of heart.

"Pardon me if I don't see the necessity," said Sir Brian. "I have no
relationship with Mrs. Mason, and do not remember ever having seen her.
Can I do anything for you, brother? Can I be useful to you in any way?
Pray command me and Barnes here, who after City hours will be delighted
if he can be serviceable to you--I am nailed to this counter all the
morning, and to the House of Commons all night;--I will be with you in
one moment, Mr. Quilter. Good-bye, my dear Colonel. How well India has
agreed with you! how young you look! the hot winds are nothing to what
we endure in Parliament.--Hobson," in a low voice, "you saw about that
h'm, that power of attorney--and h'm and h'm will call here at twelve
about that h'm.--I am sorry I must say good-bye--it seems so hard after
not meeting for so many years."

"Very," says the Colonel.

"Mind and send for me whenever you want me, now."

"Oh, of course," said the elder brother, and thought when will that ever
be!

"Lady Anne will be too delighted at hearing of your arrival. Give my
love to Clive--a remarkable fine boy, Clive--good morning:" and the
Baronet was gone, and his bald head might presently be seen alongside of
Mr. Quilter's confidential grey poll, both of their faces turned into an
immense ledger.

Mr. Hobson accompanied the Colonel to the door, and shook him cordially
by the hand as he got into his cab. The man asked whither he should
drive? and poor Newcome hardly knew where he was or whither he should
go. "Drive! a--oh--ah--damme, drive me anywhere away from this place!"
was all he could say; and very likely the cabman thought he was a
disappointed debtor who had asked in vain to renew a bill. In fact,
Thomas Newcome had overdrawn his little account. There was no such
balance of affection in that bank of his brothers, as the simple
creature had expected to find there.

When he was gone, Sir Brian went back to his parlour, where sate young
Barnes perusing the paper. "My revered uncle seems to have brought back
a quantity of cayenne pepper from India, sir," he said to his father.

"He seems a very kind-hearted simple man," the Baronet said "eccentric,
but he has been more than thirty years away from home. Of course you
will call upon him to-morrow morning. Do everyt