--My friend
Warrington found a grim pleasure in his company; and his bright face,
droll humour, and kindly laughter were always welcome in our chambers.
Honest Fred Bayham was charmed to be in his society; and used
pathetically to aver that he himself might have been such a youth, had he
been blest with a kind father to watch, and good friends to guide, his
early career. In fact, Fred was by far the most didactic of Clive's
bachelor acquaintances, pursued the young man with endless advice and
sermons, and held himself up as a warning to Clive, and a touching
example of the evil consequences of early idleness and dissipation.
Gentlemen of much higher rank in the world took a fancy to the lad.
Captain Jack Belsize introduced him to his own mess, as also to the Guard
dinner at St. James's; and my Lord Kew invited him to Kewbury, his
lordship's house in Oxfordshire, where Clive enjoyed hunting, shooting,
and plenty of good company. Mrs. Newcome groaned in spirit when she heard
of these proceedings; and feared, feared very much that that unfortunate
young man was going to ruin; and Barnes Newcome amiably disseminated
reports amongst his family that the lad was plunged in all sorts of
debaucheries: that he was tipsy every night: that he was engaged, in his
sober moments, with dice, the turf, or worse amusements: and that his
head was so turned by living with Kew and Belsize, that the little
rascal's pride and arrogance were perfectly insufferable.
Pages:
448
449
450
451
452
453
454
455
456
457
458
459
460
461
462
463
464
465
466
467
468
469
470
471
472