pretty resolutely on all subjects which moved or interested
him; and Clive, his son, and his honest chum, Mr. Binnie, who had a
great deal more reading and much keener intelligence than the Colonel,
were amused often at his naive opinion about men, or books, or morals.
Mr. Clive had a very fine natural sense of humour, which played
perpetually round his father's simple philosophy with kind and smiling
comments. Between this pair of friends the superiority of wit lay,
almost from the very first, on the younger man's side; but, on the other
hand, Clive felt a tender admiration for his father's goodness, a loving
delight in contemplating his elder's character, which he has never lost,
and which in the trials of their future life inexpressibly cheered and
consoled both of them! Beati illi! O man of the world, whose wearied
eyes may glance over this page, may those who come after you so regard
you! O generous boy, who read in it, may you have such a friend to trust
and cherish in youth, and in future days fondly and proudly to remember!

Some four or five weeks after the quasi-reconciliation between Clive and
his kinsman, the chief part of Sir Brian Newcome's family were assembled
at the breakfast-table together, where the meal was taken in common, and
at the early hour of eight (unless the senator was kept too late in
the House of Commons overnight); and Lady Anne and her nursery were
now returned to London again, little Alfred being perfectly set up by
a month of Brighton air. It was a Thursday morning; on which day of the
week, it has been said, the Newcome Independent and the Newcome Sentinel
both made their appearance upon the Baronet's table. The household
from above and from below; the maids and footmen from the basement; the
nurses, children, and governesses from the attics; all poured into the
room at the sound of a certain bell.

I do not sneer at the purpose for which, at that chiming eight-o'clock
bell, the household is called together. The urns are hissing, the plate
is shining; the father of the house, standing up, reads from a gilt
book for three or four minutes in a measured cadence. The members of
the family are around the table in an attitude of decent reverence;
the younger children whisper responses at their mother's knees; the
governess worships a little apart; the maids and the large footmen are
in a cluster before their chairs, the upper servants performing their
devotion on the other side of the side