stantly visiting the poor now; how she was for
ever engaged in good works for the young, the sick, and the aged. She
had had a dreadful misfortune in love; she was going to be married to a
young marquis; richer even than Prince de Moncontour down at Rosebury;
but it was all broke off on account of that dreadful affair at the Hall.

Was she very good to the poor? did she come often to see her
grandfather's old friend? it was no more than she ought "to do," Colonel
Newcome said; without, however, thinking fit to tell his informant that
he had himself met his niece Ethel, five minutes before he had entered
Mrs. Mason's door.

The poor thing was in discourse with Mr. Harris, the surgeon, and
talking (as best she might, for no doubt the news which she had just
heard had agitated her), talking about blankets, and arrowroot, wine,
and medicaments for her poor, when she saw her uncle coming towards her.
She tottered a step or two forwards to meet him; held both her hands
out, and called his name; but he looked her sternly in the face, took
off his hat and bowed, and passed on. He did not think fit to mention
the meeting even to his son, Clive; but we may be sure Mr. Harris, the
surgeon, spoke of the circumstance that night after the lecture, at the
club, where a crowd of gentlemen were gathered together, smoking
their cigars, and enjoying themselves according to their custom, and
discussing Sir Barnes Newcome's performance.

According to established usage in such cases, our esteemed
representative was received by the committee of the Newcome Athenaeum,
assembled in their committee-room, and thence marshalled by the chairman
and vice-chairman to his rostrum in the lecture-hall, round about which
the magnates of the institution and the notabilities of the town were
rallied on this public occasion. The Baronet came in some state from
his own house, arriving at Newcome in his carriage with four horses,
accompanied by my lady his mother, and Miss Ethel his beautiful sister,
who now was mistress at the Hall. His little girl was brought--five
years old now; she sate on her aunt's knee, and slept during a greater
part of the performance. A fine bustle, we may be sure, was made on
the introduction of these personages to their reserved seats on the
platform, where they sate encompassed by others of the great ladies of
Newcome, to whom they and the lecturer were especially gracious at this
season. Was not Parliament about to be dissolve