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ON HIS WAY THROUGH THE WORLD 425
The Baynes boys dashed into the garden at the sound of wheels.
"Mamma—mamma! it's Uncle Mac!" these innocents cried, as
they ran to the railings. "Uncle Mac! what could bring him?
Oh ! they are going to send me to him ! they are going to send me
to him !" thought Charlotte, starting on her bed. And on this, I
daresay, a certain locket was kissed more vehemently than ever.
" I say, ma !" cries the ingenious Moira, jumping back to the
house : " it's Uncle Mac, and Aunt Mac, too !"
" What ?" cries mamma, with anything but pleasure in her
voice; and then, turning to the dining-room, where her husband
still sat, she called out, " General ! here's MacWhirter and Emily !"
Mrs. Baynes gave her sister a very grim kiss.
" Dearest Eliza, I thought it was such a good opportunity of
coming, and that I might be so useful, you know !" pleads Emily.
"Thank you. How do you do, MacWhirter?" says the grim
Générale.
" Glad to see you, Baynes my boy !"
" How d'ye do, Emily ? Boys, bring your uncle's traps. Didn't
know Emily was coming, Mac. Hope there's room for her !" sighs
the General, coming forth from his parlour.
The Major was struck by the sad looks and pallor of his
brother in-law. "By George, Baynes, you look as yellow as a
guinea. How's Tom Bunch ?"
" Come into this room along with me. Have some brandy-andwater,
Mac ? Auguste! Odevie O sho !" calls the General; and
Auguste, who out of the new-comers' six packages has daintily
taken one very small mackintosh cushion, says, " Comment ? encore
du grog, Général ?" and, shrugging his shoulders, disappears to
procure the refreshment at his leisure.
The sisters disappear to their embraces; the brothers-in-law
retreat to the salle-a-manger, where General Baynes has been sitting,
gloomy and lonely, for half-an-hour past, thinking of his quarrel
with his old comrade, Bunch. He and Bunch have been chums for
more than forty years. They have been in action together, and
honourably mentioned in the same report. They have had a great
regard for each other; and each knows the other is an obstinate old
mule, and, in a quarrel, will die rather than give way. They have
had a dispute out of which there is only one issue. Words have
passed which no man, however old, by George! can brook from
any friend, however intimate, by Jove! No wonder Baynes is
grave. His family is large; his means are small. To-morrow he
may be under fire of an old friend's pistol. In such an extremity
he knows how each will behave. No wonder, I say, the General is
solemn.