lancholy and
silent acquiescence which had, of late, been his part in the household.
The carriage was announced--the ladies came down--pretty capotes on the
lovely Campaigner, Goby vowed, looking as young and as handsome as
her daughter, by Jove, and the ball door was opened to admit the two
gentlemen and ladies to their carriage, when, as they were about to
step in, a hansom cab drove up rapidly, in which was perceived Thomas
Newcome's anxious face. He got out of the vehicle--his own carriage
making way for him--the ladies still on the steps. "Oh, the play! I
forgot," said the Colonel.

"Of course we are going to the play, papa," cries little Rosey, with a
gay little tap of her hand.

"I think you had better not," Colonel Newcome said gravely.

"Indeed my darling child has set her heart upon it, and I would not have
her disappointed for the world in her situation," cries the Campaigner,
tossing up her head.

The Colonel for reply bade his coachman drive to the stables, and come
for further orders; and, turning to his daughter's guest, expressed to
Captain Goby his regret that the proposed party could not take place on
that evening, as he had matter of very great importance to communicate
to his family. On hearing these news, and understanding that his further
company was not desirable, the Captain, a man of great presence of mind,
arrested the hansom cabman, who was about to take his departure, and who
blithely, knowing the Club and its inmates full well, carried off the
jolly Captain to finish his evening at the Flag.

"Has it come, father?" said Clive with a sure prescience, looking in his
father's face.

The father took and grasped the hand which his son held out. "Let us
go back into the dining-room," he said. They entered it, and he filled
himself a glass of wine out of the bottle still standing amidst the
dessert. He bade the butler retire, who was lingering about the room and
sideboard, and only wanted to know whether his master would have dinner,
that was all. And, this gentleman having withdrawn, Colonel Newcome
finished his glass of sherry and broke a biscuit; the Campaigner
assuming an attitude of surprise and indignation, whilst Rosey had
leisure to remark that papa looked very ill, and that something must
have happened.

The Colonel took both her hands and drew her towards him and kissed her,
whilst Rosey's mamma, flouncing down on a chair, beat a tattoo upon the
tablecloth with her fan. "Somethin