the Colonel's palanquins and bearers made their appearance, and Elvira Wilkins
went away weeping as a widow should. Why did she abuse Newcome ever after at
Calcutta, Bath, Cheltenham, and wherever she went, calling him selfish, pompous,
Quixotic, and a Bahawder? I could mention half a dozen other names of ladies of
most respectable families connected with Leadenhall Street, who, according to
Colonel Newcome's chum - that wicked Mr. Binnie - had all conspired more or less
to give Clive Newcome a step-mother.
    But he had had an unlucky experience in his own case, and thought within
himself, »No, I won't give Clive a step-mother. As Heaven has taken his own
mother from him, why, I must try to be father and mother too to the lad.« He
kept the child as long as ever the climate would allow of his remaining, and
then sent him home. Then his aim was to save money for the youngster. He was of
a nature so uncontrollably generous, that to be sure he spent five rupees where
another would save them, and make a fine show besides; but it is not a man's
gifts or hospitalities that generally injure his fortune. It is on themselves
that prodigals spend most. And as Newcome had no personal extravagances, and the
smallest selfish wants; could live almost as frugally as a Hindoo; kept his
horses not to race but to ride; wore his old clothes and uniforms until they
were the laughter of his regiment; did not care for show, and had no longer an
extravagant wife, he managed to lay by considerably out of his liberal
allowances, and to find himself and Clive growing richer every year.
    »When Clive has had five or six years at school« - that was his scheme - »he
will be a fine scholar, and have at least as much classical learning as a
gentleman in the world need possess. Then I will go to England, and we will pass
three or four years together, in which he will learn to be intimate with me,
and, I hope, to like me. I shall be his pupil for Latin and Greek, and try and
make up for lost time. I know there is nothing like a knowledge of the classics
to give a man good breeding - Ingenuas didicisse fideliter artes emollunt mores,
nec sinuisse feros. I shall be able to help him with my knowledge of the world,
and to keep him out of the way of sharpers and a pack of rogues who commonly
infest young men. I will make