at my Lady Yarmouth's routs, and at all the card-parties in the
Court end of the town?" asks the Colonel.

"My dear Colonel, I do what other folks do," says Harry, with rather a
high manner.

"Other folks are richer folks than some folks, my dear lad."

"Sir!" says Mr. Warrington, "I would thank you to believe that I owe
nothing for which I cannot pay!"

"I should never have spoken about your affairs," said the other, not
noticing the young man's haughty tone, "but that you yourself confided
them to me. I hear all sorts of stories about the Fortunate Youth. Only
at his Royal Highness's even today, they were saying how rich you were
already, and I did not undeceive them----"

"Colonel Lambert, I cannot help the world gossiping about me!" cries Mr.
Warrington, more and more impatient.

"--And what prodigious sums you had won. Eighteen hundred one night--two
thousand another--six or eight thousand in all! Oh! there were gentlemen
from White's at the levee too, I can assure you, and the army can fling
a main as well as you civilians!"

"I wish they would meddle with their own affairs," says Harry, scowling
at his old friend.

"And I, too, you look as if you were going to say. Well, my boy, it is
my affair and you must let Theo's father and Hetty's father, and Harry
Warrington's father's old friend say how it is my affair." Here the
Colonel drew a packet out of his pocket, whereof the lappets and the
coat-tails and the general pocket accommodations were much more ample
than in the scant military garments of present warriors. "Look you,
Harry. These trinkets which you sent with the kindest heart in the world
to people who love you, and would cut off their little hands to spare
you needless pain, could never be bought by a young fellow with two or
three hundred a year. Why, a nobleman might buy these things, or a rich
City banker, and send them to his--to his daughters, let us say."

"Sir, as you say, I meant only kindness," says Harry, blushing
burning-red.

"But you must not give them to my girls, my boy. Hester and Theodosia
Lambert must not be dressed up with the winnings off the gaming-table,
saving your presence. It goes to my heart to bring back the trinkets.
Mrs. Lambert will keep her present, which is of small value, and sends
you her love and a God bless you--and so say I, Harry Warrington, with
all my heart." Here the good Colonel's voice was much moved, and his
face grew very red, and he passed his hand