Sir Barnes quarrelled with his mother and drove her out of the
house on her last visit--think of that! The servants here know it. Martha
brought me the whole story from the housekeeper's room. This Sir Barnes
Newcome is a dreadful creature, Arthur. I am so glad I loathed him from
the very first moment I saw him."
"And into this ogre's den you propose to put me and my family, madam!"
says the husband. "Indeed, where won't I go if you order me? Oh, who will
pack my portmanteau?"
Florac and the Princess were both in desolation when, at dinner, we
announced our resolution to go away--and to our neighbours at Newcome!
that was more extraordinary. "Que diable goest thou to do in this
galley?" asks our host as we sat alone over our wine.
But Laura's intended visit to Lady Clara was never to have a fulfilment,
for on this same evening, as we sate at our dessert, comes a messenger
from Newcome, with a note for my wife from the lady there:--
"Dearest, kindest Mrs. Pendennis," Lady Clara wrote, with many italics,
and evidently in much distress of mind.
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