father saw the son's mind more clearly than he had ever done
hitherto. They had scarcely ever talked upon that subject which the
Colonel found was so deeply fixed in Clive's heart. He thought of his
own early days, and how he had suffered, and beheld his son before him
racked with the same cruel pangs of enduring grief. And he began to
own that he had pressed him too hastily in his marriage; and to make an
allowance for an unhappiness of which he had in part been the cause.

"Mashallah! Clive, my boy," said the old man, "what is done is done."

"Let us break up our camp before this place, and not go to war with
Barnes, father," said Clive. "Let us have peace--and forgive him if we
can."

"And retreat before this scoundrel, Clive?"

"What is a victory over such a fellow? One gives a chimney-sweep the
wall, father."

"I say again--What is done is done. I have promised to meet him at the
hustings, and I will. I think it is best: and you are right: and you act
like a high-minded gentleman--and my dear old boy--not to meddle in the
quarrel--though I didn't think so--and the difference gave me a great
deal of pain--and so did what Pendennis said--and I'm wrong--and thank
God I am wrong--and God bless you, my own boy!" the Colonel cried out
in a burst of emotion; and the two went to their bedrooms together,
and were happier as they shook hands at the doors of their adjoining
chambers than they had been for many a long day and year.

CHAPTER LXIX. The Election

Having thus given his challenge, reconnoitred the enemy, and pledged
himself to do battle at the ensuing election, our Colonel took leave of
the town of Newcome, and returned to his banking affairs in London. His
departure was as that of a great public personage; the gentlemen of the
Committee followed him obsequiously down to the train. "Quick," bawls
out Mr. Potts to Mr. Brown, the station-master, "Quick, Mr. Brown, a
carriage for Colonel Newcome!" Half a dozen hats are taken off as he
enters into the carriage, F. Bayham and his servant after him, with
portfolios, umbrellas, shawls, despatch-boxes. Clive was not there to
act as his father's aide-de-camp. After their conversation together the
young man had returned to Mrs. Clive and his other duties in life.

It has been said that Mr. Pendennis was in the country, engaged in a
pursuit exactly similar to that which occupied Colonel Newcome. The
menaced dissolution of Parliament did not take place so soon