' And with that I turned on my heel and left
him. And the fellow went off to Newcome that very night."
"A poor devil can't command courage, General," said the Colonel, quite
peaceably, "any more than he can make himself six feet high."
"Then why the dash did the beggar send for me?" called out General Sir
George Tufto, in a loud and resolute voice; and presently the two
officers parted company.
When the Colonel reached home, Mr. Warrington and Mr. Pendennis happened
to be on a visit to Clive, and all three were in the young fellow's
painting-room. We knew our lad was unhappy, and did our little best to
amuse and console him. The Colonel came in. It was in the dark February
days: we lighted the gas in the studio. Clive had made a sketch from some
favourite verses of mine and George's: those charming lines of Scott's:--
"He turned his charger as he spake,
Beside the river shore;
He gave his bridle-rein a shake,
With adieu for evermore,
My dear!
Adieu for evermore!"
Thomas Newcome held up a finger at Warrington, and he came up to the
picture and looked at it; and George and I trolled out:
"Adieu for evermore,
My dear!
Adieu for evermore!"
From the picture the brave old Colonel turned to the painter, regarding
his son with a look of beautiful inexpressible affection.
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