Barnes's extraordinary statements respecting Lady Kew's absence puzzled
the elder Newcome; and he spoke of his nephew's conduct with much
indignation. In vain I urged that her ladyship desiring to be considered
absent from London, her grandson was bound to keep her secret. "Keep her
secret, yes! Tell me lies, no!" cries out the Colonel. Sir Barnes's
conduct was in fact indefensible, though not altogether unusual--the
worst deduction to be drawn from it, in my opinion, was, that Clive's
chance with the young lady was but a poor one, and that Sir Barnes
Newcome, inclined to keep his uncle in good-humour, would therefore give
him no disagreeable refusal.
Now this gentleman could no more pardon a lie than he could utter one. He
would believe all and everything a man told him until deceived once,
after which he never forgave. And wrath being once roused in his simple
mind and distrust firmly fixed there, his anger and prejudices gathered
daily. He could see no single good quality in his opponent; and hated him
with a daily increasing bitterness.
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