"
These, I say, respected our friend, whatever was the coat he wore;
whereas, among the Colonel's own kinsfolk, dire was the dismay, and
indignation even, which they expressed when they came to hear of this,
what they were pleased to call degradation to their family. Clive's dear
mother-in-law made outcries over the good old man as over a pauper, and
inquired of Heaven, what she had done that her blessed child should have
a mendicant for a father? And Mrs. Hobson, in subsequent confidential
communication with the writer of these memoirs, improved the occasion
religiously as her wont was; referred the matter to Heaven too, and
thought fit to assume that the celestial powers had decreed this
humiliation, this dreadful trial for the Newcome family, as a warning to
them all that they should not be too much puffed up with prosperity, nor
set their affections too much upon things of this earth. Had they not
already received one chastisement in Barnes's punishment, and Lady
Clara's awful falling away? They had taught her a lesson, which the
Colonel's lamentable errors had confirmed,--the vanity of trusting in all
earthly grandeurs! Thus it was this worthy woman plumed herself, as it
were, on her relative's misfortunes; and was pleased to think the latter
were designed for the special warning and advantage of her private
family.
Pages:
1766
1767
1768
1769
1770
1771
1772
1773
1774
1775
1776
1777
1778
1779
1780
1781
1782
1783
1784
1785
1786
1787
1788
1789
1790