as that Clive retreated from
Lady Kew's hand, to fall into Barnes's.

"Clive trod on Barnes's toe," cries out cheery Lord Kew, "and has hurt
Barnes's favourite corn, so that he cannot go out, and is actually
obliged to keep the room. That's what we were laughing at."

"Hem!" growled Lady Kew. She knew to what her grandson alluded. Lord Kew
had represented Jack Belsize, and his thundering big stick, in the most
terrific colours to the family council. The joke was too good a one not
to serve twice.

Lady Anne, in her whispered conversation with the old Countess, had
possibly deprecated her mother's anger towards poor Clive, for when
he came up to the two ladies, the younger took his hand with great
kindness, and said, "My dear Clive, we are very sorry you are going. You
were of the greatest use to us on the journey. I am sure you have been
uncommonly good-natured and obliging, and we shall all miss you very
much." Her gentleness smote the generous young fellow, and an emotion of
gratitude towards her for being so compassionate to him in his misery,
caused his cheeks to blush and his eyes perhaps to moisten. "Thank you,
dear aunt," says he, "you have been very good and kind to me. It is I
that shall feel lonely; but--but it is quite time that I should go to my
work."

"Quite time!" said the severe possessor of the eagle beak. "Baden is
a bad place for young men. They make acquaintances here of which very
little good can come. They frequent the gambling-tables, and live with
the most disreputable French Viscounts. We have heard of your goings-on,
sir. It is a great pity that Colonel Newcome did not take you with him
to India."

"My dear mamma," cries Lady Anne, "I am sure Clive has been a very good
boy indeed." The old lady's morality put a stop to Clive's pathetic
mood, and he replied with a great deal of spirit, "Dear Lady Anne, you
have been always very good, and kindness is nothing surprising from you;
but Lady Kew's advice, which I should not have ventured to ask, is
an unexpected favour; my father knows the extent of the gambling
transactions to which your ladyship was pleased to allude, and
introduced me to the gentleman whose acquaintance you don't seem to
think eligible."

"My good young man, I think it is time you were off," Lady Kew said,
this time with great good-humour; she liked Clive's spirit, and as
long as he interfered with none of her plans, was quite disposed to be
friendly with him. "Go to Rome,