Barnes Newcome, who had condescended to attend his sister's little fête, and
had been languidly watching the frolics of the young people, looked very much
alarmed.
 

                                  Chapter XXI

                           Is Sentimental, but Short.

Without wishing to disparage the youth of other nations, I think a well-bred
English lad has this advantage over them, that his bearing is commonly more
modest than theirs. He does not assume the tail-coat and the manners of manhood
too early; he holds his tongue, and listens to his elders; his mind blushes as
well as his cheeks; he does not know how to make bows and pay compliments like
the young Frenchman; nor to contradict his seniors as, I am informed, American
striplings do. Boys, who learn nothing else at our public schools, learn at
least good manners, or what we consider to be such; and, with regard to the
person at present under consideration, it is certain that all his acquaintances,
excepting perhaps his dear cousin Barnes Newcome, agreed in considering him as a
very frank, manly, modest, and agreeable young fellow. My friend Warrington
found a grim pleasure in his company, and his bright face, droll humour, and
kindly laughter were always welcome in our chambers. Honest Fred Bayham was
charmed to be in his society; and used pathetically to aver that he himself
might have been such a youth, had he been blest with a kind father to watch, and
good friends to guide, his early career. In fact, Fred was by far the most
didactic of Clive's bachelor acquaintances, pursued the young man with endless
advice and sermons, and held himself up as a warning to Clive, and a touching
example of the evil consequences of early idleness and dissipation. Gentlemen of
much higher rank in the world took a fancy to the lad. Captain Jack Belsize
introduced him to his own mess, as also to the Guard dinner at St. James's; and
my Lord Kew invited him to Kewbury, his Lordship's house in Oxfordshire, where
Clive enjoyed hunting, shooting, and plenty of good company. Mrs. Newcome
groaned in spirit when she heard of these proceedings, and feared, feared very
much that that unfortunate young man was going to ruin; and Barnes Newcome
amiably disseminated reports amongst his family that the lad was plunged in all
sorts of debaucheries - that he was tipsy every night; that he was engaged, in
his sober moments, with dice, the turf, or worse amusements; and that his head
was so turned by living with Kew and Belsize, that the little