emember, when that fellow
was hanged for murdering a woman, Barnes said he did not wonder at his
having done it. Young men make those connexions in their early lives and
rue them all their days after. He was heartily sorry, that we may take
for granted. He wished to lead a proper life. My grandmother managed
this business with the Dorkings. Lady Kew still pulls stroke oar in our
boat, you know, and the old woman will not give up her place. They know
everything, the elders do. He is a clever fellow. He is witty in his
way. When he likes he can make himself quite agreeable to some people.
There has been no sort of force. You don't suppose young ladies are
confined in dungeons and subject to tortures, do you? But there is a
brood of Pulleyns at Chanticlere, and old Dorking has nothing to give
them. His daughter accepted Barnes of her own free will, he knowing
perfectly well of that previous affair with Jack. The poor devil bursts
into the place yesterday and the girl drops down in a faint. She will
see Belsize this very day if he likes. I took a note from Lady Dorking
to him at five o'clock this morning. If he fancies that there is any
constraint put upon Lady Clara's actions she will tell him with her own
lips that she has acted of her own free will. She will marry the husband
she has chosen and do her duty by him. You are quite a young un who boil
and froth up with indignation at the idea that a girl hardly off with an
old love should take on with a new----"

"I am not indignant with her," says Clive, "for breaking with Belsize,
but for marrying Barnes."

"You hate him, and you know he is your enemy; and, indeed, young
fellow, he does not compliment you in talking about you. A pretty young
scapegrace he has made you out to be, and very likely thinks you to be.
It depends on the colours in which a fellow is painted. Our friends
and our enemies draw us,--and I often think both pictures are like,"
continued the easy world-philosopher. "You hate Barnes, and cannot
see any good in him. He sees none in you. There have been tremendous
shindies in Park Lane a propos of your worship, and of a subject which
I don't care to mention," said Lord Kew, with some dignity; "and what
is the upshot of all this malevolence? I like you; I like your father,
I think he is a noble old boy; there are those who represented him as
a sordid schemer. Give Mr. Barnes the benefit of common charity at any
rate; and let others like him, if you do not.