dear little cottage at Blackheath; how handsome he was then, with bright
eyes, and long black hair flowing over his shoulders; how military glory
was his boyish passion, and he was for ever talking of India, and the
famous deeds of Clive and Lawrence. His favourite book was a history
of India--the history of Orme. "He read it, and I read it also, my
daughter," the French lady said, turning to Ethel; "ah! I may say so
after so many years."

Ethel remembered the book as belonging to her grandmother, and now in
the library at Newcome. Doubtless the same sympathy which caused me to
speak about Thomas Newcome that evening, impelled my wife likewise. She
told her friends, as I had told Florac, all the Colonel's story; and it
was while these good women were under the impression of the melancholy
history, that Florac and his guest found them.

Retired to our rooms, Laura and I talked on the same subject until the
clock tolled Christmas, and the neighbouring church bells rang out a
jubilation. And, looking out into the quiet night, where the stars were
keenly shining, we committed ourselves to rest with humbled hearts;
praying, for all those we loved, a blessing of peace and goodwill.

CHAPTER LXXVII. The Shortest and Happiest in the Whole History

In the ensuing Christmas morning I chanced to rise betimes, and
entering my dressing-room, opened the windows and looked out on the
soft landscape, over which mists were still lying; whilst the serene
sky above, and the lawns and leafless woods in the foreground near, were
still pink with sunrise. The grey had not even left the west yet, and I
could see a star or two twinkling there, to vanish with that twilight.

As I looked out, I saw the not very distant lodge-gate open after a
brief parley, and a lady on horseback, followed by a servant, rode
rapidly up to the house. This early visitor was no other than Miss Ethel
Newcome. The young lady espied me immediately. "Come down; come down to
me this moment, Mr. Pendennis," she cried out. I hastened down to her,
supposing rightly that news of importance had brought her to Rosebury so
early.

The news were of importance indeed. "Look here!" she said, "read this;"
and she took a paper from the pocket of her habit. "When I went home
last night, after Madame de Florac had been talking to us about Orme's
India, I took the volumes from the bookcase and found this paper. It is
in my grandmother's--Mrs. Newcome's--handwriting; I kno