rid, jolly countenance, active habits, and generally manly
demeanour. He kept away from the cocoa-nut feast, as we have seen: he
protested privily to the Colonel that his private goodwill continued
undiminished but he was deeply grieved at the B. B. C. affair, which
took place while he was on the Continent--confound the Continent,
my wife would go--and which was entirely without his cognisance. The
Colonel received his brother's excuses, first with awful bows and
ceremony, and finally with laughter. "My good Hobson," said he, with the
most insufferable kindness, "of course you intended to be friendly; of
course the affair was done without your knowledge. We understand that
sort of thing. London bankers have no hearts--for these last fifty years
past that I have known you and your brother, and my amiable nephew, the
present commanding officer, has there been anything in your conduct that
has led me to suppose you had?" and herewith Colonel Newcome burst out
into a laugh. It was not a pleasant laugh to hear. Worthy Hobson took
his hat, and walked away, brushing it round and round, and looking very
confused. The Colonel strode after him downstairs, and made him an awful
bow at the hall door. Never again did Hobson Newcome set foot in that
Tyburnian mansion.

During the whole of that season of the testimonial the cocoa-nut figured
in an extraordinary number of banquets. The Colonel's hospitalities
were more profuse than ever, and Mrs. Clive's toilettes more brilliant.
Clive, in his confidential conversations with his friends, was very
dismal and gloomy. When I asked City news of our well-informed friend
F. B., I am sorry to say, his countenance became funereal. The B. B. C.
shares, which had been at an immense premium twelve months since, were
now slowly falling, falling.

"I wish," said Mr. Sherrick to me, "the Colonel would realise, even now,
like that Mr. Ratray who has just come out of the ship, and brought a
hundred thousand pounds with him."

"Come out of the ship! You little know the Colonel, Mr. Sherrick, if you
think he will ever do that."

Mr. Ratray, though he had returned to Europe, gave the most cheering
accounts of the B. B. C. It was in the most flourishing state. Shares
sure to get up again. He had sold out entirely on account of his liver.
Must come home--the doctor said so.

Some months afterwards, another director, Mr. Hedges, came home. Both
of these gentlemen, as we know, entertained the fashionabl