Clive, his father, and Frederick Bayham, their faithful aide-de-camp,
were at Newcome likewise when Sir Barnes's oration was delivered. At
first it was given out at Newcome that the Colonel visited the place for
the purpose of seeing his dear old friend and pensioner, Mrs. Mason, who
was now not long to enjoy his bounty, and so old, as scarcely to know her
benefactor. Only after her sleep, or when the sun warmed her and the old
wine with which he supplied her, was the good old woman able to recognise
her Colonel. She mingled father and son together in her mind. A lady who
now often came in to her, thought she was wandering in her talk, when the
poor old woman spoke of a visit she had had from her boy; and then the
attendant told Miss Newcome that such a visit had actually taken place,
and that but yesterday Clive and his father had been in that room, and
occupied the chair where she sat. "The young lady was taken quite ill,
and seemed ready to faint almost," Mrs. Mason's servant and spokeswoman
told Colonel Newcome when that gentleman arrived shortly after Ethel's
departure, to see his old nurse.
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