a certain degree
of goodwill from the world, which is touched by her humility and her
pretty sweet looks. The servants in Fitzroy Square waited upon her
much more kindly than upon her smiling bustling mother. Uncle James is
especially fond of his little Rosey. Her presence in his study never
discomposes him; whereas his sister fatigues him with the exceeding
activity of her gratitude, and her energy in pleasing. As I was going
away, I thought I heard Sir Brian Newcome say, "It" (but what "it" was,
of course I cannot conjecture)--"it will do very well. The mother seems
a superior woman."

CHAPTER XXV. Is passed in a Public-house

I had no more conversation with Miss Newcome that night, who had
forgotten her curiosity about the habits of authors. When she had ended
her talk with Miss Mackenzie, she devoted the rest of the evening to her
uncle, Colonel Newcome; and concluded by saying, "And now you will
come and ride with me to-morrow, uncle, won't you?" which the Colonel
faithfully promised to do. And she shook hands with Clive very kindly:
and with Rosey very frankly, but as I thought with rather a patronising
air: and she made a very stately bow to Mrs. Mackenzie, and so departed
with her father and mother. Lady Kew had gone away earlier. Mrs.
Mackenzie informed us afterwards that the Countess had gone to sleep
after her dinner. If it was at Mrs. Mack's story about the Governor's
ball at Tobago, and the quarrel for precedence between the Lord Bishop's
lady, Mrs. Rotchet, and the Chief Justice's wife, Lady Barwise, I should
not be at all surprised.

A handsome fly carried off the ladies to Fitzroy Square, and the two
worthy Indian gentlemen in their company; Clive and I walking, with the
usual Havannah to light us home. And Clive remarked that he supposed
there had been some difference between his father and the bankers: for
they had not met for ever so many months before, and the Colonel always
had looked very gloomy when his brothers were mentioned. "And I can't
help thinking," says the astute youth, "that they fancied I was in love
with Ethel (I know the Colonel would have liked me to make up to her),
and that may have occasioned the row. Now, I suppose, they think I am
engaged to Rosey. What the deuce are they in such a hurry to marry me
for?"

Clive's companion remarked, "that marriage was a laudable institution:
and an honest attachment an excellent conservator of youthful morals."
On which Clive repl