To do as much would not his father have stripped his coat
from his back,--have put his head under Juggernaut's chariot-wheel, have
sacrificed any ease, comfort, or pleasure for the youngster's benefit?
One great passion he had had and closed the account of it: a worldly
ambitious girl--how foolishly worshipped and passionately beloved no
matter--had played with him for years; had flung him away when a
dissolute suitor with a great fortune and title had offered himself. Was
he to whine and despair because a jilt had fooled him? He had too much
pride and courage for any such submission; he would accept the lot in
life which was offered to him, no undesirable one surely; he would fulfil
the wish of his father's heart, and cheer his kind declining years. In
this way the marriage was brought about. It was but a whisper to Rosey in
the drawing-room, a start and a blush from the little girl as he took the
little willing hand, a kiss for her from her delighted old father-in-law,
a twinkle in good old James's eyes, and double embrace from the
Campaigner as she stood over them in a benedictory attitude;--expressing
her surprise at an event for which she had been jockeying ever since she
set eyes on young Newcome; and calling upon Heaven to bless her children.
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