net--"Thank you, no, my dear sir. I have exceeded already,
positively exceeded," the poor discomfited gentleman hardly knows
whither to apply: but, luckily, Tom Norris, the first mate, comes to his
rescue, and cries out, "Mr. Binnie, I've not had enough, and I'll drink
a glass of anything ye like with ye." The fact is, that Mr. Norris has
had enough. He has drunk bumpers to the health of every member of the
company; his glass has been filled scores of times by watchful waiters.
So has Mr. Bayham absorbed great quantities of drink; but without any
visible effect on that veteran toper. So has young Clive taken more than
is good for him. His cheeks are flushed and burning; he is chattering
and laughing loudly at his end of the table. Mr. Warrington eyes the lad
with some curiosity; and then regards Mr. Barnes with a look of scorn,
which does not scorch that affable young person.

I am obliged to confess that the mate of the Indiaman, at an early
period of the dessert, and when nobody had asked him for any such public
expression of his opinion, insisted on rising and proposing the health
of Colonel Newcome, whose virtues he lauded outrageously, and whom he
pronounced to be one of the best of mortal men. Sir Brian looked
very much alarmed at the commencement of this speech, which the mate
delivered with immense shrieks and gesticulation: but the Baronet
recovered during the course of the rambling oration, and at its
conclusion gracefully tapped the table with one of those patronising
fingers; and lifting up a glass containing at least a thimbleful of
claret, said, "My dear brother, I drink your health with all my heart,
I'm su-ah." The youthful Barnes had uttered many "Hear, hears!" during
the discourse, with an irony which, with every fresh glass of wine he
drank, he cared less to conceal. And though Barnes had come late he had
drunk largely, making up for lost time.

Those ironical cheers, and all his cousin's behaviour during dinner, had
struck young Clive, who was growing very angry. He growled out remarks
uncomplimentary to Barnes. His eyes, as he looked towards his kinsman,
flashed out challenges, of which we who were watching him could see the
warlike purport. Warrington looked at Bayham and Pendennis with glances
of apprehension. We saw that danger was brooding, unless the one young
man could be restrained from his impertinence, and the other from his
wine.

Colonel Newcome said a very few words in reply to his hon