k--you must pardon my garrulity--I am growing
old, Arthur. This poverty and these quarrels have beaten my spirit
down--there, I shall talk on this subject no more. I wish, sir, I could
ask you to dine with us, but"--and here he smiled--"we must get the
leave of the higher powers."

I was determined, in spite of prohibitions and Campaigners, to see my
old friend Clive, and insisted on walking back with the Colonel to his
lodgings, at the door of which we met Mrs. Mackenzie and her daughter.
Rosa blushed up a little--looked at her mamma--and then greeted me with
a hand and a curtsey. The Campaigner also saluted me in a majestic but
amicable manner, made no objection even to my entering her apartments
and seeing the condition to which they were reduced: this phrase was
uttered with particular emphasis and a significant look towards the
Colonel, who bowed his meek head and preceded me into the lodgings,
which were in truth very homely, pretty, and comfortable. The Campaigner
was an excellent manager--restless, bothering, brushing perpetually.
Such fugitive gimcracks as they had brought away with them decorated the
little salon. Mrs. Mackenzie, who took the entire command, even pressed
me to dine and partake, if so fashionable a gentleman would condescend
to partake, of a humble exile's fare. No fare was perhaps very pleasant
to me in company with that woman, but I wanted to see my dear old
Clive, and gladly accepted his voluble mother-in-law's not disinterested
hospitality. She beckoned the Colonel aside; whispered to him, putting
something into his hand; on which he took his hat and went away. Then
Rosey was dismissed upon some other pretext, and I had the felicity to
be left alone with Mrs. Captain Mackenzie.

She instantly improved the occasion; and with great eagerness and
volubility entered into her statement of the present affairs and
position of this unfortunate family. She described darling Rosey's
delicate state, poor thing--nursed with tenderness and in the lap of
luxury--brought up with every delicacy and the fondest mother--never
knowing in the least how to take care of herself, and likely to fall
down and perish unless the kind Campaigner were by to prop and protect
her. She was in delicate health--very delicate--ordered cod-liver oil
by the doctor. Heaven knows how he could be paid for those expensive
medicines out of the pittance to which the imprudence--the most culpable
and designing imprudence, and extrav