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ON HIS WAY THROUGH THE WORLD 387
passed. The young man would be one day so wealthy, that she
knew many and many a schemer would try and entrap him. Perhaps
she had been made to marry his father because he was rich ;
and she remembered the gloom and wretchedness of her own union.
Oh, that she could see her son out of temptation, and the husband
of an honest girl ! It was the young lady's first season ? So much
the more likely that she should be unworldly. " The General—
don't you remember a nice old gentleman—in a—well, in a wig—
that day we dined at Lord Trim's, when that horrible old Lord
Ringwood was there? That was General Baynes; and he broke
out so enthusiastically in defence of a poor young man—Dr. Firmin's
son—who was a bad man, I believe ; but I shall never have confidence
in another doctor again, that I shan't. And we'll call on
these people, Fanny. Yes, in a brown wig—the General, I perfectly
well remember him, and Lord Trim said he was a most
distinguished officer. And I have no doubt his wife will be a most
agreeable person. Those generals' wives who have travelled over
the world must have acquired a quantity of delightful information.
At a boarding-house, are they ? I daresay very pleasant and
amusing. And we'll drive there and call on them immediately."
On that day, as Macgrigor and Moira Baynes were disporting
in the little front garden of Madame Smolensk's, I think Moira was
just about to lick Macgrigor, when his fratricidal hand was stopped
by the sight of a large yellow carriage—a large London dowager
family carriage—from which descended a large London family footman,
with side-locks begrimed with powder, with calves such as
only belong to large London family footmen, and with cards in his
hand. " Ceci Madame Smolensk ?" says the large menial. " Oui,"
says the boy, nodding his head ; on which the footman was puzzled,
for he thought from his readiness in the use of the French language
that the boy was a Frenchman.
" Ici demure General Bang ?" continued the man.
" Hand us over the cards, John. Not at home," said Moira.
" Who ain't at 'ome ?" inquired the menial.
" General Baynes, my father, ain't at home. He shall have the
pasteboard when he comes in. ' Mrs. Hely ?' Oh, Mac, it's the
same name as that young swell who called the other day ! Ain't
at home, John. Gone out to pay some visits. Had a fly on
purpose. Gone out with my sister. Ton my word, they have,
John." And from this accurate report of the boy's behaviour, I
fear that the young Baynes must have been brought up at a classical
and commercial academy, where economy was more studied than
politeness.
Philip comes trudging up to dinner, and as this is not his post