homas de Boots, who
is not a bad chap over a glass of wine; Mr. Pendennis's chum, Mr.
Warrington, and my nephew, Barnes Newcome--a dry fellow at first, but I
dare say he has good about him when you know him; almost every man
has," said the good-natured philosopher. "Clive, you rogue, mind and be
moderate with the champagne, sir!"

"Champagne's for women," says Clive. "I stick to claret."

"I say, Pendennis," here Bayham remarked, "it is my deliberate opinion
that F. B. has got into a good thing."

Mr. Pendennis seeing there was a great party was for going home to his
chambers to dress. "Hm!" says Mr. Bayham, "don't see the necessity. What
right-minded man looks at the exterior of his neighbour? He looks here,
sir, and examines there," and Bayham tapped his forehead, which was
expansive, and then his heart, which he considered to be in the right
place.

"What is this I hear about dressing?" asks our host. "Dine in your
frock, my good friend, and welcome, if your dress-coat is in the
country."

"It is at present at an uncle's," Mr. Bayham said, with great gravity,
"and I take your hospitality as you offer it, Colonel Newcome, cordially
and frankly."

Honest Mr. Binnie made his appearance a short time before the appointed
hour for receiving the guests, arrayed in a tight little pair of
trousers, and white silk stockings and pumps, his bald head shining like
a billiard-ball, his jolly gills rosy with good-humour. He was bent
on pleasure. "Hey, lads!" says he; "but we'll make a night of it. We
haven't had a night since the farewell dinner off Plymouth."

"And a jolly night it was, James," ejaculates the Colonel.

"Egad, what a song that Tom Norris sings!"

"And your 'Jock o' Hazeldean' is as good as a play, Jack."

"And I think you beat iny one I iver hard in 'Tom Bowling,' yourself,
Tom!" cries the Colonel's delighted chum. Mr. Pendennis opened the
eyes of astonishment at the idea of the possibility of renewing these
festivities, but he kept the lips of prudence closed. And now the
carriages began to drive up, and the guests of Colonel Newcome to
arrive.

CHAPTER XIII. In which Thomas Newcome sings his Last Song

The earliest comers were the first mate and the medical officer of the
ship in which the two gentlemen had come to England. The mate was
a Scotchman: the doctor was a Scotchman; of the gentlemen from the
Oriental Club, three were Scotchmen.

The Southrons, with one exception, were the last