lease. But
that solemn happiness of the Colonel, who shall depict it:--that look of
affection with which he greeted his daughter as she entered, flounced
to the waist, twinkling with innumerable jewels, holding a dainty
pocket-handkerchief, with smiling eyes, dimpled cheeks, and golden
ringlets! He would take her hand, or follow her about from group to
group, exchanging precious observations about the weather, the Park, the
exhibition, nay, the opera, for the old man actually went to the opera
with his little girl, and solemnly snoozed by her side in a white
waistcoat.

Very likely this was the happiest period of Thomas Newcome's life. No
woman (save one perhaps fifty years ago) had ever seemed so fond of him
as that little girl. What pride he had in her, and what care he took of
her! If she was a little ailing, what anxiety and hurrying for doctors!
What droll letters came from James Binnie, and how they laughed over
them: with what respectful attention he acquainted Mrs. Mack with
everything that took place: with what enthusiasm that Campaigner
replied! Josey's husband called a special blessing upon his head in the
church at Musselburgh; and little Jo herself sent a tinful of Scotch
bun to her darling sister, with a request from her husband that he might
have a few shares in the famous Indian Company.

The Company was in a highly flourishing condition, as you may suppose,
when one of its directors, who at the same time was one of the honestest
men alive, thought it was his duty to live in the splendour in which
we now behold him. Many wealthy City men did homage to him. His brother
Hobson, though the Colonel had quarrelled with the chief of the firm,
yet remained on amiable terms with Thomas Newcome, and shared and
returned his banquets for a while. Charles Honeyman we may be sure was
present at many of them, and smirked a blessing over the plenteous
meal. The Colonel's influence was such with Mr. Sherrick that he
pleaded Charles's cause with that gentleman, and actually brought to
a successful termination that little love-affair in which we have seen
Miss Sherrick and Charles engaged. Mr. Sherrick was not disposed to
part with much money during his lifetime--indeed, he proved to Colonel
Newcome that he was not so rich as the world supposed him. But, by the
Colonel's interest, the chaplaincy of Boggley Wollah was procured for
the Rev. C. Honeyman, who now forms the delight of that flourishing
station.

All this wh