The History of Pendennis

t the door of the George Inn, who stopped his master as he was about to take a candle to go to bed, and said, with his usual air of

r here?" the Major

in the coffee-room since he took his dinner, and has just rung for his coffee, sir. And I think, p'r

nters and relics of dessert. He had intended to go to the play too, but sleep had overtaken him after a copious meal, and he had flung up his legs on the ben

who was always communicative and affable; and he took up

the family likeness, I have the pleasure of speaking to Mr. Henry Foker, Lady Agnes Foker's son. I h

going to say-"I took you for a commercial gent." But he stopped

n to me about you in terms of great regard. I am Major Pendennis, of whom you may have heard him spea

r, with much courtesy. "And so you ar

ian," adde

ow as ever stepped,

ad you t

, I was-but you see, sir, I know 'em when t

the Major. "I have heard Arthur repeatedly speak

e used to do half the chaps' verses-and yet"-the young gentleman broke out, "you are his guardian; and I

of a most interesting and confidential conversation.

s little scruple, for he was in that state of absence, candour, and fearlessness which a man sometime

arry," answered the Major. "I have heard

and Pen was struck all of a heap with Miss Fotheringay-Costigan her real name is-an uncommon fine gal she is too; and the next morning I introduced him to the General, as we call her father-a regular old scamp and such a boy f

ow it too?" a

Derby Oaks-until he was as mad as a hatter. Know Sir Derby Oaks? We dined together, and he wen

he was a Baronet or a Knight; he lived in Cavend

the money spin, I can t

jor said, with great delight an

at?" inquir

irer of Miss

nd Saturdays. But mind you, nothing wrong! No, no! Miss F. is a deal too wide-awake for that,

wide-awake, too, Mr. Foker

'm not clever, p'raps: but I am rather downy; and partial friends say I kno

me. You are a young man of the world, and with such one likes to deal. And as such I need not info

on not eligible. Too much beer drunk on the premises.

and he proceeded to examine his new acquaintance regarding the amiable family into which his nephew propos

his daughter, and neither he nor she will stand anything but what's honourable. Pen's attentions to her are talked about in the whole Company, and I hear all about them from a young lady who used to be very intimate with her, and with whose family I sometimes take tea in a friendly way. Miss Rouncy says, Sir

give me a great deal of pleasure, Mr. Fo

I speak pretty freely. Heard your man had been hankering about my servant-didn't know myself what was going on

her, was the confid

lever a girl as Fotheringay, and literary and th

the Major, rememberi

, she don't know how the deuce to get on. Miss Rouncy is an uncommon pretty hand, whereas the old one makes dreadful work of

l," said the Major archly upon wh

en of her hand-writing," continued Major Pe

iss F.'s writin' ain't so very bad, I dare say; only she got Miss R. to write the first letter, and h

had the good fortune of making your acquaintance. You must feel, my dear sir, as a man of the world, how fatal to my nephew'

een his verses; Rouncy copied 'em. And I said to myself when

and cure it? I am sure you will give us what aid you can in extricating a generous young man from such a

"If Pen hadn't two thousand

?" cried out the Ma

t he got two thousand a yea

you!-thank you!-I begin to see now.-Two thousand a year! Why, his mother has but five hundred a year in

't rich then?

he has no more t

going to leav

; but he did not tell Foker this. "How much do you think a Major on half-pay can save?" he asked. "If these people hav

n promising the elder not to leave Chatteris without a further conversation in the morning. And as the Major went up to his room, and Mr. Foke

s he had made on the previous night. As they sate in confidential conversation in the Dean's oak breakfast-parlour they could look across the lawn and see Captain Costigan's window, at which poor Pen had been only too visible some three weeks since. The Doctor was most indignant against Mrs. Creed, the landlady, f

dragon," he said, with a

. Portman and Miss Myra, as they sate with their friend, the Dean's lady, in her drawing-room, loo

. Creed's little door. He passed it, and as he ascended to Captain Costigan's apa

" said the child, who piloted Major Pendennis.

tleman came forth, with a foil and mask in

elieve I have the honour of speaking to Ca

the salute, and said, "Major, the hon