But Clive, though
imperious, was very liberal and good-humoured, and not the worse served
because he insisted upon exerting his youthful authority. As for friend
Binnie, he had a hundred pursuits of his own, which made his time pass
very comfortably. He had all the Lectures at the British Institution; he
had the Geographical Society, the Asiatic Society, and the Political
Economy Club; and though he talked year after year of going to visit his
relations in Scotland, the months and seasons passed away, and his feet
still beat the London pavement.
In spite of the cold reception his brothers gave him, duty was duty, and
Colonel Newcome still proposed, or hoped to be well with the female
members of the Newcome family; and having, as we have said, plenty of
time on his hands, and living at no very great distance from either of
his brothers' town houses, when their wives were in London, the elder
Newcome was for paying them pretty constant visits. But after the good
gentleman had called twice or thrice upon his sister-in-law in Bryanstone
Square--bringing, as was his wont, a present for this little niece, or a
book for that--Mrs.
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