Sir Richard, upon this, sent for Maurice Frere, his sister's son--the abolition of the slave trade had ruined the Bristol House of Frere--and bought for him a commission in a marching regiment, hinting darkly of special favours to come.

His open preference for his nephew had galled to the quick his sensitive wife, who contrasted with some heart-pangs the gallant prodigality of her father with the niggardly economy of her husband.

Between the houses of parvenu Devine and long-descended Wotton Wade there had long been little love.

Sir Richard felt that the colonel despised him for a city knight, and had heard that over claret and cards Lord Bellasis and his friends had often lamented the hard fortune which gave the beauty, Ellinor, to so sordid a bridegroom.

Armigell Esme Wade, Viscount Bellasis and Wotton, was a product of his time.