We are only here en passant, and see nobody in Queen Street but
Barnes, who has just been about business, and he does not count, you
know. I shall go and see Clara to-morrow, and make her take me to see
your pretty friend, Mrs. Pendennis. How glad I should be if you happened
to pay Mrs. P. a visit about two! Good-night. I thank you a thousand
times, and am always your affectionate E."
"Queen Street. Tuesday night. Twelve o'clock."
This note came to Colonel Newcome's breakfast-table, and he smothered the
exclamation of wonder which was rising to his lips, not choosing to
provoke the questions of Clive, who sate opposite to him. Clive's father
was in a woeful perplexity all that forenoon. "Tuesday night, twelve
o'clock," thought he. "Why, Barnes must have gone to his grandmother from
my dinner-table; and he told me she was out of town, and said so again
just now when we met in the City." (The Colonel was riding towards
Richmond at this time.) "What cause had the young man to tell me these
lies? Lady Kew may not wish to be at home for me, but need Barnes Newcome
say what is untrue to mislead me? The fellow actually went away
simpering, and kissing his hand to me, with a falsehood on his lips! What
a pretty villain! A fellow would deserve, and has got, a horse-whipping
for less.
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