He knew of my pecuniary misfortunes, of course--and
showed himself most noble and liberal in his offers of help. I was very
much touched by his goodness, Pen,--and made a clean breast of it to his
lordship; who at first would not hear of my coming to this place--and
offered me out of the purse of an old brother-schoolfellow and an old
brother soldier as much--as much as should last me my time. Wasn't it
noble of him, Arthur? God bless him! There are good men in the world,
sir, there are true friends, as I have found in these later days. Do you
know, sir"--here the old man's eyes twinkled,--"that Fred Bayham fixed up
that bookcase yonder--and brought me my little boy's picture to hang up?
Boy and Clive will come and see me soon."
"Do you mean they do not come?" I cried.
"They don't know I am here, sir," said the Colonel, with a sweet, kind
smile. "They think I am visiting his lordship in Scotland. Ah! they are
good people! When we had had a talk downstairs over our bottle of claret
--where my old commander-in-chief would not hear of my plan--we went
upstairs to her ladyship, who saw that her husband was disturbed, and
asked the reason.
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