e
cautioned his friend the Colonel against the attractions of the buxom
siren; and laughingly would ask Clive how he would like Mrs. Mackenzie
for a mamaw?

Colonel Newcome felt himself very much at ease regarding his future
prospects. He was very glad that his friend James was reconciled to
his family, and hinted to Clive that the late Captain Mackenzie's
extravagance had been the cause of the rupture between him and his
brother-in-law, who had helped that prodigal captain repeatedly during
his life; and, in spite of family quarrels, had never ceased to act
generously to his widowed sister and her family. "But I think, Mr.
Clive," said he, "that as Miss Rosa is very pretty, and you have a spare
room at your studio, you had best take up your quarters in Charlotte
Street as long as the ladies are living with us." Clive was nothing loth
to be independent; but he showed himself to be a very good home-loving
youth. He walked home to breakfast every morning, dined often, and spent
the evenings with the family. Indeed, the house was a great deal more
cheerful for the presence of the two pleasant ladies. Nothing could
be prettier than to see the two ladies tripping downstairs together,
mamma's pretty arm round Rosey's pretty waist. Mamma's talk was
perpetually of Rosey. That child was always gay, always good, always
happy! That darling girl woke with a smile on her face, it was sweet to
see her! Uncle James, in his dry way, said, he dared to say it was very
pretty. "Go away, you droll, dear old kind Uncle James!" Rosey's mamma
would cry out. "You old bachelors are wicked old things!" Uncle James
used to kiss Rosey very kindly and pleasantly. She was as modest, as
gentle, as eager to please Colonel Newcome as any little girl could be.
It was pretty to see her tripping across the room with his coffee-cup,
or peeling walnuts for him after dinner with her white plump little
fingers.

Mrs. Irons, the housekeeper, naturally detested Mrs. Mackenzie, and was
jealous of her: though the latter did everything to soothe and coax the
governess of the two gentlemen's establishment. She praised her dinners,
delighted in her puddings, must beg Mrs. Irons to allow her to see one
of those delicious puddings made, and to write the receipt for her, that
Mrs. Mackenzie might use it when she was away. It was Mrs. Irons' belief
that Mrs. Mackenzie never intended to go away. She had no ideer of
ladies, as were ladies, coming into her kitchen. The m