as we
expected. The Ministry still hung together, and by consequence, Sir
Barnes Newcome kept the seat in the House of Commons, from which his
elder kinsman was eager to oust him. Away from London, and having but
few correspondents, save on affairs of business, I heard little of Clive
and the Colonel, save an occasional puff of one of Colonel Newcome's
entertainments in the Pall Mall Gazette, to which journal F. Bayham
still condescended to contribute; and a satisfactory announcement in a
certain part of that paper, that on such a day, in Hyde Park Gardens,
Mrs. Clive Newcome had presented her husband with a son. Clive wrote
to me presently, to inform me of the circumstance, stating at the
same time, with but moderate gratification on his own part, that the
Campaigner, Mrs. Newcome's mamma, had upon this second occasion made
a second lodgment in her daughter's house and bedchamber, and showed
herself affably disposed to forget the little unpleasantries which had
clouded over the sunshine of her former visit.

Laura, with a smile of some humour, said she thought now would be the
time when, if Clive could be spared from his bank, he might pay us that
visit at Fairoaks which had been due so long, and hinted that change of
air and a temporary absence from Mrs. Mackenzie might be agreeable to my
old friend.

It was, on the contrary, Mr. Pendennis's opinion that his wife artfully
chose that period of time when little Rosey was, perforce, kept at home
and occupied with her delightful maternal duties, to invite Clive to see
us. Mrs. Laura frankly owned that she liked our Clive better without his
wife than with her, and never ceased to regret that pretty Rosey had not
bestowed her little hand upon Captain Hoby, as she had been very well
disposed at one time to do. Against all marriages of interest this
sentimental Laura never failed to utter indignant protests; and Clive's
had been a marriage of interest, a marriage made up by the old people,
a marriage which the young man had only yielded out of good-nature and
obedience. She would apostrophise her unconscious young ones, and inform
those innocent babies that they should never be made to marry except
for love, never--an announcement which was received with perfect
indifference by little Arthur on his rocking-horse, and little Helen
smiling and crowing in her mother's lap.

So Clive came down to us, careworn in appearance, but very pleased and
happy, he said, to stay for a wh