refuse to kneel? Do not many timid souls sacrifice to them; and other
bolder spirits rebel, and, with rage at their hearts, bend down their stubborn
knees at their altars? See! I began by siding with Mrs. Grundy and the world,
and at the next turn of the see-saw have lighted down on Ethel's side, and am
disposed to think that the very best part of her conduct has been those
escapades which - which right-minded persons most justly condemn. At least, that
a young beauty should torture a man with alternate liking and indifference;
allure, dismiss, and call him back out of banishment; practise arts-to-please
upon him, and ignore them when rebuked for her coquetry - these are surely
occurrences so common in young women's history as to call for no special
censure; and if on these charges Miss Newcome is guilty, is she, of all her sex,
alone in her criminality?
    So Ethel and her duenna went away upon their tour of visits to mansions so
splendid, and among hosts and guests so polite, that the present modest
historian does not dare to follow them. Suffice it to say that Duke This and
Earl That were, according to their hospitable custom, entertaining a brilliant
circle of friends at their respective castles, all whose names the Morning Post
gave, and among them those of the Dowager Countess of Kew and Miss Newcome.
    During her absence Thomas Newcome grimly awaited the result of his
application to Barnes. That Baronet showed his uncle a letter, or rather a
postscript, from Lady Kew, which had probably been dictated by Barnes himself,
in which the Dowager said she was greatly touched by Colonel Newcome's noble
offer; that though she owned she had very different views for her
grand-daughter, Miss Newcome's choice of course lay with herself. Meanwhile,
Lady K. and Ethel were engaged in a round of visits to the country, and there
would be plenty of time to resume this subject when they came to London for the
season. And, lest dear Ethel's feelings should be needlessly agitated by a
discussion of the subject, and the Colonel should take a fancy to write to her
privately, Lady Kew gave orders that all letters from London should be
dispatched under cover to her ladyship, and carefully examined the contents of
the packet before Ethel received her share of the correspondence.
    To write to her personally on the subject of the marriage, Thomas Newcome
had determined was not a proper course for him to pursue. »They consider
themselves,« says he, »