CHAPTER 37 OF THE HISTORY OF PEN DENIS Let us be allowed to pass over a few months of the history of Mr. Arthur Pendenis' lifetime, during the which many events may have occurred which were more interesting and exciting to himself than they would be likely to prove to the reader of his present memoirs. We left him in his last chapter regularly entered upon his business as a professional writer or literary hack as Mr. Warrington chooses to style himself and his friend and we know how the life of any hack, legal or literary, in a curacy or in a marching regiment or at a merchant's desk is dull of routine and tedious of description. One day's labor resembles another much too closely. A literary man has often to work for his bread against time or against his will or in spite of his health or of his indolence or of his repugnance to the subject in which he is called to exert himself just like any other daily toiler. When you want to make money by Pegasus as he must perhaps who has no other saleable property, farewell poetry and aerial flights. Pegasus only rises now like Mr. Green's balloon at periods advertised beforehand and when the spectator's money has been paid. Pegasus trots and harness over the stony pavement and pulls a cart or a cab behind him. Often Pegasus does his work with panting sides and trembling knees and not seldom gets a cut of the whip from his driver. Do not let us however be too prodigal of our pity upon Pegasus. There is no reason why this animal should be exempt from labor or illness or decay any more than any of the other creatures of God's world. If he gets the whip Pegasus often deserves it and I for one am quite ready to protest my friend George Warrington against the doctrine which poetical sympathizers are inclined to put forward these that of letters and what is called genius are to be exempt from prose duties of this daily breadwanting tax-paying life and not to be made to work and pay like their neighbors. Well then the pal Mel Gazette being duly established and Arthur Pandenas' merits recognized as a flippant witty and amusing critic. He worked away hard every week preparing reviews of such works as came into his department and writing his reviews with flippancy certainly but with honesty and to the best of his power. It might be that a historian of three score who had spent a quarter of a century in composing a work of which our young gentleman disposed in the course of a couple of days reading at the British Museum was not altogether fairly treated by such a facile critic or that a poet who had been elaborating sublime sonnets and odes until he thought them fit for the public and for fame was annoyed by two or three dozen pert lines in Mr. Penn's review in which the poet's claims were settled by the critic as if the letter were my lord on that bench and the author a miserable little suitor trembling before him. The actors that the theaters complained of him woefully too and very likely he was too hard upon them but there was not much harm done after all it is different now as we know but there were so few great historians or great poets or great actors in Penn's time that scarce any at all came up for judgment before his critical desk. Those who got a little whipping got what in the main was good for them not that the judge was any better or wiser than the persons whom he sentenced or indeed ever fancied himself so. Penn had a strong sense of humor and justice and a not therefore an overweening respect for his own works besides he had his friend Warrington at his elbow a terrible critic if the young man was disposed to be conceded and more savage over Penn than ever he was to those whom he tried at his literary assays. By these critical labors and by occasional contributions to leading articles of the journal when without wounding his paper this eminent publicist could conscientiously speak his mind. Mr. Arthur Pendenis gained the sum of four pounds for Schilling's Weekly and with no small pains and labor likewise be furnished magazines and reviews with articles of his composition and is believed to have been though on this score he never chooses to speak. London correspondent of the Chatterist champion which at that time contained some very brilliant and eloquent letters from the metropolis. By these labors the fortunate youth was unable to earn a sum very nearly equal to four hundred pounds a year and on the second Christmas after his arrival in London he actually brought a hundred pounds to his mother as a dividend upon the debt which he owed to Laura. That Mrs. Pendenis read every word of her son's works and considered him to be the profoundest thinker the most elegant writer of the day that she thought his retribution of a hundred pounds an act of angelic virtue that she feared he was ruining his health by his labors and was delighted when he told her of the society which he met and of the great men of letters and fashion whom he saw will be imagined by all readers who have seen son worship amongst mothers and that charming simplicity of love with which women in the country watch the career of their darlings in London. If John has held such and such a brief if Tom has been invited to such and such a ball or George has met this or that great and famous man at dinner what a delight there is in the hearts of mothers and sisters at home in summer sure. How young hopefuls letters are read and remembered what a theme for a village talk they give in friendly congratulation in the second winter Penn came for a very brief space and cheered the widow's heart and lightened up the lonely house at Fair Oaks. Helen had her son all to herself Laura was away on a visit to old Lady Rockminster the folks of Clevering Park were absent the very few old friends of the house Dr. Portman at their head called upon Mr. Penn and treated him with marked respect between mother and son it was all fondness confidence and affection. It was the happiest fortnight of the widow's whole life perhaps in the lives of both of them the holiday was gone only too quickly and Penn was back in the busy world and the gentle widow alone again she sent Arthur's money to Laura I don't know why this young lady took the opportunity of leaving home when Penn was coming there or whether he was the more peaked or relieved by her absence. He was by this time by his own merits in his uncle's introductions pretty well introduced into London and known both in literary and polite circles. Amongst the former his fashionable reputation stood him in no little stead he was considered to be a gentleman of good present means and better expectations who wrote for his pleasure than which there cannot be a greater recommendation to a young literary aspirant. Bacon, Bange and company were proud to accept his articles Mr. Wenham asked him to dinner Mr. Wag looked upon him with a favorable eye and they reported how they met him at the houses of persons of fashion amongst whom he was pretty welcome as they did not trouble themselves about his means present to a future as his appearance and address were good and as he had got a character for being a clever fellow. Finally he was asked to one house because he was seen at another house and thus no small varieties of London life were presented to the young men he was made familiar with all sorts of people from Pattern Osterrow to Pinnacle and was as much at home at Mayfair dining tables as at those tavern boards where some of his companions of the pen were accustomed to assemble. Full of high spirits and curiosity easily adapting himself to all whom he met the young fellow pleased himself in this strange variety and jumble of mint and made himself welcome or at ease at least wherever he went. He would breakfast for instance at Mr. Plovers of a morning in company with a peer, a bishop, a parliamentary orator, two blue ladies of fashion, a popular preacher, the author of the last new novel and the very latest line imported from Egypt or from America and would quit this distinguished society for the back room at the newspaper office where pens and ink and the wet proof sheets were awaiting him. Here would be the new cane, the sub-editor with the last news from the row, and Shandon would come in presently and giving a nod to pen would begin scribbling his leading article at the other end of the table flanked by the pint of sherry which when the attendant boy beheld him was always silently brought for the captain or Mr. Blue Deer's roaring voice would be heard in the front room where that truculent critic would impound the books on the counter in spite of the timid remonstrances of Mr. Midge, the publisher, and after looking through the volumes would sell them at his accustomed bookstore and having drunken and dined upon the produce of the sale in a tavern box would call for ink and paper and proceed to smash the author of his dinner and the novel. Towards evening Mr. Penn would stroll in the direction of his club and take up Warrington there for a constitutional walk. This exercise freed the lungs and gave an appetite for dinner after which Penn had the privilege to make his bow at some very pleasant houses which were open to him or the town before him for amusement. There was the opera or the eagle tavern or a ball to go to in Mayfair or a quiet night with a cigar and a book and a long talk with Warrington or a wonderful new song at the back kitchen. At this time of his life Mr. Penn beheld all sorts of places and men and very likely did not know how much he enjoyed himself until long after.  At his present mature age all these pleasures are over and the times have passed away too. It is but a very very few years since but the time is gone and most of them in blood year will no more bully authors or cheat landlords of their score. Shandon the learned and thriftless the witty and unwise sleeps his last sleep. They buried on a stool in the other day never will he cringe or flutter never pull longbow or empty whiskey noggin anymore. The London season was now blooming in its full vigor and the fashionable newspapers abounded with information regarding the grand banquets routes and balls which were enlivening the plight world. Our gracious sovereign was holding levies and drawing rooms at St. James's. The bow-winders of the clubs were crowded with the heads of respectable red-faced newspaper reading gentlemen along the serpentine trail thousands of carriages squadrons of dandy horsemen trampled over rotten row everybody was in town in a word and of course major Arthur Pandenas who was somebody was not absent with his head tied up in a smart bandana handkerchief and his meager carcass enveloped in a brilliant turkish dressing gown the worthy gentleman sat on a certain morning by his fireside letting his feet gently simmer in a bath whilst he took his early cup of tea and perused his morning post he could not have faced the day without his two hours toilet without his early cup of tea without his morning post I suppose nobody in the world except Morgan not even Morgan's master himself knew how feeble and ancient the major was growing and what numberless little comforts he required it means near as our habit is at the artifices of an old beauty at her paint perfumes ringlets at those innumerable and to us unknown stratagems with which she is said to remedy the ravages of time and reconstruct the charms where our viewers have bereft her the ladies it is to be presumed are not on their side altogether ignorant that men are vain as well as they and that the toilets of old bucks are to the full as elaborate as their own how is it that old blushing tin keeps that constant little rose tint on his cheeks and where does old blonde bell get the preparation which makes his silver hair pass for golden have you ever seen lord hot spur get off his horse when he thinks nobody is looking taken out of his stirrups his shiny boots can hardly tatter up the steps of hot spur house he is a dashing young nobleman still as you see the back of him in rotten row when you behold him on foot what an old old fellow did you ever form to yourself any idea of dick lacy dick has been dick these 60 years in a natural state and without his stays all these men are objects whom the observer of human life and manners may contemplate with as much profit as the most elderly belgrave and venus or in better it may fare Jezebel an old reprobate daddy long legs who has never said his prayers except perhaps in public these 50 years an old buck who still clings to as many of the habits of youth as his feeble grasp of health can hold by who has given up the bottle but sits with young fellows over it and tells naughty stories upon toast and water who has given up beauty but still talks about it as wickedly as the youngest roux in company such an old fellow I say if any person in pymlico or saint james's were to order the Beatles to bring him into the middle aisle and there set him in an armchair make a text of him and preach about him to the congregation could be turned to a wholesome use for once in his life it might be surprised to find that some good thoughts came out of him but we are wandering from our tax the honest nature who sits all this while with his feet cooling in the bath Morgan takes them out of that place of purification and drives them daintily and proceeds to set the old gentleman on his legs with waistband and wig starch cravat and spotless boots and gloves it was during these hours of the toy that Morgan and his employer had their confidential conversations for they did not meet much at other times of the day the major pouring the society of his own chairs and tables in his lodgings and Morgan his master's toilet over and letters delivered had his time very much on his own hands this spare time the active and well mannered gentleman bestowed among the valets and butlers of the nobility his acquaintance and Morgan pendennis as he was stopped for by such compound names gentlemen's gentlemen are called in their private circles was a frequent and welcome guest at some of the very highest tables in this town he was a member of two influential clubs in mayfair and pinlaka and he was thus unable to know the whole gossip of the town and entertain his master very agreeably during the two hours toilet conversation he knew a hundred tales and legends regarding persons of the very highest ton whose valets can list their august secrets just as my dear madam as our own parlor maze and dependence in the kitchen discuss our characters our stinginess and generosity our pecuniary means or embarrassments and our little domestic or cannubial tiffs and quarrels if i leave this manuscript open on my table i'm not the slightest doubt betty will read it and they won't talk it over in the lower regions tonight and tomorrow she will bring in my breakfast with a face of such entire imperturbable innocence that no mortal could suppose or guilty of playing the spy if you and the captain have high words upon any subject which is just possible the circumstances of the quarrel and the characters of both of you will be discussed with impartial eloquence over the kitchen tea table that mrs smith's maid should by chance be taking a dish of tea with yours her presence will not undoubtedly act as a restraint upon the discussion in question her opinion will be given with candor and the next day her mistress will probably know that captain and mrs jones have been a quarreling as usual nothing is secret take it as a rule that john knows everything does in our humble world so in the greatest aduke is no more a hero to his valet de chambre than you or i and his grace is man at his club in company doubtless with other men of equal social rank talks over his master's character and affairs with the ingenuous truthfulness which befits gentlemen who are met together in confidence who is a niggered and screws up his money boxes who is in the hands of the money lenders and is putting his noble name on the back of bills of exchange who is intimate with whose wife who wants whom to marry her daughter and which he won't know not at any price all these facts gentlemen's confidential gentlemen discuss confidentially and are known and examined by every person who has any claim to rank in genteel society in a word if old pendentus himself was said to know everything and was at once admirably scandalous and delightfully discreet it is but justice to morgan to say that a great deal of his master's information was supplied to that worthy man by his dolly who went out and forage knowledge for him indeed what more effectual plan is there to get a knowledge of london society than to begin at the foundation that is at the kitchen floor so mr morgan and his employer conversed as the latter's toilet proceeded there had been a drawing room on the previous day and the major read among the presentations out of lady clovering by lady rockminster and a miss aimery by her mother lady clovering and in a further part of the paper the addresses were described with a precision and in a jargon which will puzzle and amuse the antiquary of future generations the site of these names carry pendentus back to the country how long have the cloverings been in london he asked pray morgan have you seen any of their people sir francis have sent away his foreign man sir mr morgan replied and have took a friend of mine as own man sir indeed he applied on my recommendation he may recollect taller sir tall red aired man but dies his heir was groom of the chambers and lord levance family till his lordship broke up it's a fall for taller sir but poor men can't be particular said the valet with a pathetic voice debilish hard on taller by gad said the major amused and not pleasant for lord levante he always knew it was coming sir i spoke to you of it michael miss was four years when her ladyship with the diamonds and pawn it was taller sir took him in two calves to dobres and a good deal of the plate went the same way don't you remember seeing of it at black wall with the levante arms and cornic and lord levante sat in opposite to it at the mark was abstain's dinner beg your pardon did i cut you sir morgan was now operating upon the major's chin he continued the theme while strapping the skillful razor they've took a house and grows from our place and are coming out strong sir her ladyship's going to give three parties besides a dinner a week sir her fortune won't stand it can't stand it yeah she had a debilish good cook when i was at fair oaks the major said with very little compassion for the widow amory's fortune maro bland was his name sir maro bland's gone away sir morgan said and the major this time with hearty sympathy said he was debilish sorry to lose him there's been a tremendous row about that mossier maro blin morgan continued at a ball at payment sir blessed his impadence he challenged mr harther to fight a jewel sir which mr arthur was very near knocking him down and pitching him out of winter and serve him right but she valued strong sir came up and stopped the shindy i beg pardon the halter occasion sir then french creeks has as much pride and insolence as if they was real gentlemen i heard something of that quarrel said the major but maro bland was not turned off of that no sir that affair sir which mr harther forgave it him and behaved most handsome was hushed up it was about miss hamery sir that he had his dismissal those french fellows they fancy everybody is in love with him and he climbed up the large great bond to her winter sir and was a trying to get in when he was caught sir mr strong came out and they got the garden engine and played on him and there was no end of a rye sir confound his impudence you don't mean to say miss amory encouraged him cried the major amazed at a peculiar expression in mr morgan's countenance morgan resumed his imperturbable demeanor know nothing about it sir servants don't know them kind of things the least most probably there was nothing in it so many lies is told about families maro bland went away bagging baggage saucepans and piano and all the fellow at a piano and wrote poetry in french and he took a lodging at clavverine and he hankered about the premises and it was said that madame frisbee the milliner brought letters to miss hamery though i don't believe a word about it nor that he tried to pison himself with charcoal which it was all a humbug but twigs him and madame frisbee and he was nearly shot by the keeper in the park in the course of that very day a chance that the major had stationed himself in the great window of bays his club in st james's street at the hour in the afternoon when you see a half score of respectable o bucks similarly recreating themselves bases is rather an old-fashioned place of resort now and many of its members more than middle age but in the time of the prince regent these old fellows occupied the same window and were some of the very greatest dandies in this empire major pendentus was looking from the great window and spied his nephew arthur walking down the street and company with his friend mr pop joy look said pop joy depend as they passed did you ever pass bases at four o'clock without seeing that collection of old fogies it's a regular museum they ought to be cast in wax and set up madame twosomes in a chamber of old horrors by themselves penn said laughing in the chamber of horrors yeah do you say good pop cry they are old rogues most of them and no mistake there's old blondelle there's my uncle colchicum the most confounded old center in europe there's hello there's somebody wrapping the window and nodding at us it's my uncle the major sub pen is he an old senator to notorious old road pop said wagging his head no torius old world he pronounced the words thereby rendering them much more empathy he's beckoning you in he wants to speak to you come in to penn said can't reply the other cut uncle col two years ago about mademoiselle friend japan dot and the young senator took leave of pen and the club of the elder criminals and sauntered into black queers an adjacent establishment frequented by reprobates of his own age colchicum blondelle and the senior bucks have just been conversing about the clavaring family whose appearance in london had formed the subject of major pendent is morning conversation with his valet mr blondelle's house was next to that of surfrance's clavaring and grows from her place giving very good dinners himself he had remarked some activity in his neighbor's kitchen surfrance's indeed had a new chef who had come in more than once and dressed mr blondelle's dinner for him that gentleman having only a remarkably expert female artist permanently engaged in his establishment and employing such chiefs of note as happened to be free on the occasion of his grand banquets they go to a devilish expense and see devilish bad company as yet i hear mr blondelle said they scoured the streets by get to get people to dine with them jampignon says it breaks his heart to serve up a dinner to their society whether shame it is that those low people should have money at all cried mr blondelle whose grandfather had been a reputable leather breeches maker and whose father had lent money to the princes i wish i'd fallen in with the widow myself side lord colchicum and not been laid up with that confounded gout of like horn i would have married the woman myself i'm told she has 600 000 pounds in the threes not quite so much as that i knew her family in india major pendentus said i knew her family in india her father was an enormously rich old indigo planter they're all about her clavoring has the next estate to ours in the country ah there's my nephew walking with with mine the infernal young scamp said lord colchicum glowering at pop joy out of his heavy eyebrows and he turned away from the window as major pendentus tapped upon it the major was in high good humor the summer's bright the air brisk and invigorating he determined upon a visit to lady clavoring on that day and we thought him that arthur would be a good companion for the walk across the green park to her lady ship's door master penn was not displeased to accompany his illustrious relative who pointed out a dozen great men in that brief transit through st james's street and got bows from our duke at a crossing a bishop on a card and a cabinet minister with an umbrella the duke gave the elder pendentus a finger of a pike clay glove to shake which the major embraced with great veneration and all penn's blood tingled as he found himself in actual communication as it were with this famous man for penn had possession of the major's left arm whilst the gentleman's other wing was engaged with his grace's right and he wished all gray fryer's school all oxbridge university all pata master row and the temple and laura and his mother at fair oaks could be standing on each side of the street to see the meeting between him and his uncle and the most famous duke in christendom how do pendentus fine day were his grace's remarkable words and with the nod of his august head he passed on in a blue frock coat and spotless white duck trousers in a white stock without shining buckle behind all pendentus whose likeness to his grace has been remarked began to imitate him unconsciously after they had parted speaking with curt sentences after the manner of the great man we have all of us no doubt met with more than one military officer who has so imitated the manner of a certain great captain of the age and has perhaps changed his own natural character and disposition because fate had endowed him with an aquiline nose in like manner have we not seen many another man pride himself on having a tall forehead and supposed likeness to mr canning many another go through life swelling with self gratification on account of an imagined resemblance we say imagine because that anybody should be really like that most beautiful and perfect amen is impossible to the great and revered george the fourth many third parties who wore low necks to their dresses because they fancied that lord byron and themselves were similar in appearance and has not the grave closed but lately upon poor tom bicker steth who having no more imagination than mr joseph hume looked in the glass and fancied himself like shakespeare shaved his forehead so as farther to resemble the immortal bard wrote tragedies incessantly and died perfectly crazy actually perished of his forehead these are similar freaks of vanity most people who have frequented the world must have seen in their experience penn laughed in his rogueish sleeve at the manner in which his uncle began to imitate the great man from whom they had just parted but mr penn was his vein in his own way perhaps as the elder gentleman and strutted with a very consequential air of his own by the major side yes my dear boy said the old bachelor as they sauntered through the green park where many poor children were disporting happily and erin boys were playing at toss half penny and black sheep were grazing in the sunshine and an actor was learning his part on the bench and nursery maids and their charges sauntered here and there and several couples were walking in a leisurely manner yes depending on it my boy for a poor man there was nothing like having good acquaintances who were those men with whom you saw me in the bow window at bases two were peers of the realm hob and a knob will be appear as soon as his grand uncle dies and he has had his third seizure and of the other four not one has less than his seven thousand a year did you see that dark blue broom with that tremendous stepping horse waiting at the door of the club you will know it again it is sir Hugh trumping tins he was never known to walk in his life never appears in the streets on foot never and if he is going two doors off to see his mother the old dowager to whom I shall certainly introduce you for she received some of the best company in london god sir he mounts this horse at number 23 and dismounts again at number 25 a he is now upstairs at bays is playing pk with count punter he is the second best player in the england as well he may be before he plays every day of his life except some days for sir hugh is an uncommonly religious man from half past three till half past seven when he dresses for dinner a very pious manner of spending his time pan said laughing and thinking that his uncle was falling into the twaddling state he answered that is not the question a man of his estate may employ his time as he chooses when you are a baronette or county member with ten thousand acres of the best land in cheshire and such a place as trumpington though he never goes there he may do as you like and so that was his broom sir was it the nephew said with almost a sneer his broom oh uh yes and that brings me back to my point revenant mouton yes begat revenant our new mouton well that broom is mine if i choose between four and seven just as much mine as if i chopped it from tillberries begat for 30 pound a month sir hugh is the best nature fellow in the world and if it hadn't been so fine an afternoon as it is you and i would have been in that broom at this very minute on our way to grow a similar place that is the benefit of knowing rich men i dine for nothing sir i go into the country and i'm mounted for nothing other fellows keep hounds and gamekeepers for me sick though no robes as we used to say at gray frayers a i'm of the opinion of my old friend leech of the 44th and a devilish good shrewd fellow he was as most scotchmen are yes sir leech used to say he was so poor that he couldn't afford to know a poor man you don't act up to your principal's uncle pan said good naturedly up to my principal's house sir the major asked rather testily you would have cut me in st james's street sir penn said were your practice not more benevolent than your theory you who live with dukes and magnets of the land and would take no notice of a poor devil like me by which speech we may see that mr penn was getting on in the world and could flatter as well as laugh in his sleep major pendentus was appeased instantly and very much pleased he tapped affectionately his nephew's arm on which he was leaning and said you sir you are my flesh and blood hang it sir i've been very proud of you and very fond of you but for your confounded follies and extravagances and wild oats sir which i hope you've sewn them i hope you've sewn them begat my object rather is to make a man of you to see you well placed in the world as it becomes one of your name and my own sir you've got yourself a little reputation by your literary talents which i'm very far from undervaluing though in my time begat poetry and genius and that sort of thing were devilish disreputable there was poor byron for instance who ruined himself and contracted the worst habits by living with poets and newspaper writers and people of that kind but the times are changed now there's a run-up on literature clever fellows get into the best houses in town began tempura mu tan too sir and by jove i suppose whatever is is right as shakespeare says pen did not think fit to tell his uncle who was the author who had made use of that remarkable phrase and he was descending from the green park the pair made their way into grows from their place and to the door of the mansion occupied there by sir frances and lady clevering the dining room shutters of this handsome mansion were freshly gilded the knockers shown gorgeous upon the newly painted door the balcony before the drawing room bloomed with a portable garden of the most beautiful plants and with flowers white and pink and scarlet the windows of the upper room the sacred chamber and dressing room of my lady doubtless and even a pretty little casement of the third story which keen sighted mr pen presumed to belong to the virgin bedroom of miss blanche amory were similarly adorned with floral ornaments and the whole exterior face of the house presented the most brilliant aspect which fresh new paint shining plate glass newly cleaned bricks and spotless mortar could her offer to the beholder how strong must have rejoiced in organizing all the splendor thought pen he recognized the chivalier's genius in the magnificence before him lady clevering is going out for her drive the major said we shall only have to leave our pay sports author he used the word pay sports having heard it from some of the ingenuous youth of the nobility about town and as a modern phrase suited to pens tender years indeed as the two gentlemen reached the door a land down drove up a magnificent yellow carriage lined with brocade or satin of a faint cream color drawn by wonderful gray horses with flaming ribbons and harness blazing all over with crests no less than three of these heraldic emblems surmounted the coats of arms on the panels and these shields contained a prodigious number of quarterings be tokening the antiquity and splendor of the house of clevering and smell a coachman in a tight silver wigs remounted the magnificent hammer cloth were on the same arms were worked in bullion and control the prancing grays a young man still but of a solemn countenance with a laced waistcoat and buckles in his shoes little buckles unlike those which john and jeans the footman wear and which we know are large and spread elegantly over the foot one of the leaves of the hall door was opened in john one of the largest of his race was leaning against the door pillar with his ambrosial hair powdered his legs crossed beautiful silk stocking in his hand his cane gold-headed dola coke yon jeans was invisible but near at hand waiting in the hall with the gentleman who does not wear livery and ready to fling down the roll of hair cloth over which her ladyship was to step to her carriage these things amend the witch to tell the demands time are seen in the glance of a practice die and in fact the major pen had scarcely crossed the street when the second baton of the door flew open the horse hair carpet tumbled down the door steps to those of the carriage john was opening it on one side of the emblazoned door and jeans on the other the two ladies are tired in the highest style of fashion and accompanied by a third who carried a bledham spaniel yelping in a light blue ribbon came forth to ascend the carriage miss amry was the first to enter which she did with aerial lightness and took the place which she liked best lady clever next followed but her ladyship was more mature of age and heavier foot and one of those feet are tired in a green satin boot with some part of a stocking which was very fine whatever the ankle might be which is in circle might be seen swaying on the carriage step as her ladyship leaned for support on the arm of the unbending jeans by the enraptured observer of female beauty who happened to be passing at the time of this imposing ceremonial the pen denises senior and junior beheld those charms as they came up to the door the major looking grave and courtly and pen somewhere to bash at the carriage and its owners for he thought of somebody little passages at clevering which made his heart beat rather quick at that moment lady clevering looking round the pair she was on the first carriage step and would have been in the vehicle in another second but she gave a start backwards which caused some of the powder to fly from the hair of ambrosial jeans and crying out laura if it isn't arthur pen denis and the old major jumped back to terra firma directly and holding out two fat hands encased in tight orange color gloves the good nature of the woman warmly greeted the major and his nephew come in both of you why haven't you been before get out blanche and come and see your old friends i'm so glad to see you we've been waiting and waiting for you ever so long come in lunch and ain't gone down cried out this hospitable lady squeezing pen's hand in both hers she had dropped the majors after a brief wrench of recognition and blanche casting up her eyes towards the chimneys descended from the carriage presently with a timid blushing appealing look and gave a little hand to major pen denis the companion with the spaniel looked about the resolute and doubting whether she should not take bite of his airing but she too turned right about face and entered the house after lady clevering her daughter and the true gentleman and the carriage with the prancing rays was left unoccupied saved by the coachman in the silver wig end of chapter 37 chapter 38 of the history of pen denis this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org recording by Jennifer Painter the history of pen denis by William Makepeace Thackeray chapter 38 in which the silph reappears better folks than Morgan the valet were not so well instructed as that gentleman regarding the amount of lady cleverings riches and the legend in London upon her ladyship's arrival in the polite metropolis was that her fortune was enormous indigo factories opium clippers banks overflowing with rupees diamonds and jewels of native princes and vast sums of interest paid by them for loans contracted by themselves or their predecessors to lady cleverings father were mentioned as sources of her wealth her account at her london bankers was positively known and the sum embraced so many ciphers as to create as many o's of admiration in the wandering hero it was a known fact that an envoy from an indian prince a colonel altamont the nawab of Lucknow's prime favorite an extraordinary man who had it was said embraced mohabitianism and undergone a thousand wild and perilous adventures was at present in this country trying to negotiate with the beagum clevering the sale of the nawab's celebrated nose ring diamond the light of the dew an under the title of the beagum lady cleverings fame began to spread in london before she herself descended upon the capital and as it has been the boast of del loam and blackstone and all panagiarists of the british constitution that we admit into our aristocracy merit of every kind and that the lowliest born man if he but deserve it may wear the robes of a pier and sit alongside of a cavendish or a stanley so it ought to be the boast of our good society that haughty though it be naturally jealous of its privileges and careful who shall be admitted into its circle yet if an individual be but rich enough all barriers are instantly removed and he or she is welcomed as from his wealth he merits to be this fact shows our british independence an honest feeling our higher orders are not such mere haughty aristocrats as the ignorant represent them on the contrary if a man have money they will hold out their hands to him eat his dinners dance at his balls bury his daughters and give their own lovely girls to his sons as affably as your commonest roturia would do as he had super intended the arrangements of the country mansion our friend the chevalier strong gave the benefit of his taste and advice to the fashionable london upholsterers who prepared the townhouse for the reception of the flavouring family in the decoration of this elegant abode honest strong soul rejoiced as much as if he had been himself its proprietor he hung and rehung the pictures he studied the positions of sofas he had interviews with wine merchants and purveyors who were to supply the new establishment and at the same time the baronets factotum and confidential friend took the opportunity of furnishing his own chambers and stocking his snug little cellar his friends complimented him upon the neatness of the former and the select guests who came into share strong's cutlet now found a bottle of excellent claret to accompany the meal the chevalier was now as he said in clover he had a very comfortable set of rooms in shepherds in he was waited odd by a former spanish legionary and comrade of his whom he had left at a breach of a spanish fort and found at a crossing in Tottenham court road and whom he had elevated to the rank of body servant to himself and to the chum who at present shared his lodgings this was no other than the favourite of the Nawab of Lucknow the valiant colonel altamont no man was less curious or at any rate more discreet than Ned strong and he did not care to inquire into the mysterious connection which very soon after their first meeting at beymouth was established between Sir Francis Clevering and the envoy of the Nawab the latter knew some secret regarding the former which put Clevering into his power somehow and strong who knew that his patron's early life had been rather irregular and that his career with his regiment in india had not been brilliant supposed that the colonel who swore he knew Clevering well at Calcutta had some hold upon Sir Francis to which the latter was forced to yield in truth strong had long understood Sir Francis Clevering's character as that of a man utterly weak in purpose in principle and intellect a moral and physical trifler and paltrune with poor Clevering his excellency had had one or two interviews after their beymouth meeting the nature of which conversations the baronet did not confide to strong although he sent letters to altamont by that gentleman who was his ambassador in all sorts of affairs on one of these occasions the Nawab's envoy must have been in an exceeding ill-humour for he crushed Clevering's letter in his hand and said with his own particular manner and emphasis a hundred be hanged i'll have no more letters nor no more shilly shally tell Clevering i'll have a thousand or by joe i'll split and burst him all to atoms let him give me a thousand and i'll go abroad and i give you my honor as a gentleman i'll not ask him for no more for a year give him that message from me strong my boy and tell him that if the money ain't here next friday at 12 o'clock as sure as my name's what it is i'll have a paragraph in the newspaper on saturday and next week i'll blow up the whole concern strong carried back these words to his principal on whom their effect was such that actually on the day and hour appointed the chevalier made his appearance once more at altamont's hotel at beymouth with the sum of money required altamont was a gentleman he said and behaved as such he paid his bill at the inn and the beymouth paper announced his departure on a foreign tour strong saw him embark at dover must be forgery at the very least he thought that has put Clevering into this fellow's power and the colonel has got the bill before the year was out however this happy country saw the colonel once more upon its shores a confounded run on the red had finished him he said at baden baden no gentleman could stand against a color coming up 14 times he had been obliged to draw upon sir frances cleavering for means of returning home and cleavering though pressed for money for he had election expenses had set up his establishment in the country and was engaged in furnishing his london house yet found means to accept colonel altamont's bill though evidently very much against his will for in strong's hearing sir frances wished to heaven with many curses that the colonel could have been locked up in a debtor's jail in germany for life so that he might never be troubled again these sums for the colonel sir frances was obliged to raise without the knowledge of his wife for though perfectly liberal no sumptuous in her expenditure the good lady had inherited a tolerable aptitude for business along with a large fortune of her father snell and gave to her husband only such a handsome alliance as she thought befitted a gentleman of his rank now and again she would give him a present or pay an outstanding gambling debt but she always exacted a pretty accurate account of the money so required and respecting the subsidies to the colonel cleavering fairly told strong that he couldn't speak to his wife part of mr strong's business in life was to procure this money and other sums for his patron and in the chevaliers apartments in shepherds in many negotiations took place between gentlemen of the moneyed world and sir frances cleavering and many valuable banknotes and pieces of stamped paper were passed between them when a man had been in the habit of getting in debt from his early youth and of exchanging his promises to pay at 12 months against present sums of money it would seem as if no piece of good fortune ever permanently benefited him a little while after the advent of prosperity the money lender is pretty certain to be in the house again and the bills with the old signature in the market cleavering found it more convenient to see these gentry at strong's lodgings than at his own and such was the chevaliers friendship for the baronet that although he did not possess a shilling of his own his name might be seen as the drawer of almost all the bills of exchange which sir frances cleavering accepted having drawn cleavering's bills he got them discounted in the city when they became due he piled with the bill holders and gave them instalments of their debt or got time in exchange for fresh acceptances regularly or irregularly gentlemen must live somehow and as we read how the other day at comorne the troops forming that garrison for gay and lively acted plays danced at balls and consumed their rations though menaced with an assault from the enemy without the walls and with the gallows if the austrians were successful so there are hundreds of gallant spirits in this town walking about in good spirits dining every day intolerable gaiety and plenty and going to sleep comfortably with a bailiff always more or less near and a rope of debt around their necks the witch trifling inconveniences ned strong the old soldier bore very easily but we shall have another opportunity of making acquaintance with these and some other interesting inhabitants of shepherd's inn and in the meanwhile a keeping lady cleavering and her friends too long waiting on the doorsteps of groven a place first they went into the gorgeous dining room fitted up lady cleavering couldn't for goodness gracious tell why in the middle age style and less said her good natured ladyship laughing because me and cleavering are middle-aged people and here they were offered the copious remains of the luncheon of which lady cleavering and blanche had thus partaken when nobody was near our little sylphied who scarcely ate at dinner more than the six grains of rice of amena the friend of the ghouls in the arabian knights was most active with her knife and fork and consumed a very substantial portion of mutton cutlets in which piece of hypocrisy it is believed she resembled other young ladies of fashion pen and his uncle declined the refection but they admired the dining room with fitting compliments and pronounced it very chaste that being the proper phrase there were indeed high-backed dutch chairs of the 17th century there was a sculptured carved buffet of the 16th there was a sideboard robbed out of the carved work of a church in the low countries and a large brass cathedral lamp over the round oak table there were old family portraits from war door street and tapestry from france bits of armor double-handed swords and battle axes made of cut on pierre looking glasses statuettes of saints and dresden china nothing in a word could be chaser behind the dining room was the library fitted with busts and books all of a size and wonderful easy chairs and solemn bronzes in the severe classic style here it was that guarded by double doors sir frances smoked cigars and read bell's life in london and went to sleep after dinner when he was not smoking over the billiard table at his clubs or punting at the gambling houses in st. james's but what could equal the chaste splendor of the drawing rooms the carpets were so magnificently fluffy your foot made no more noise on them than your shadow on their white ground bloomed roses and tulips as big as warming pans about the room were high chairs and glow chairs bandy legged chairs chairs so attenuated that it was a wonder any but a self could sit upon them marquetry tables covered with marvellous gym cracks china ornaments of all ages and countries bronzes guilt daggers books of beauty yatagans turkish papushes and boxes of parisian bombons wherever you sat down there were dresden shepherds and shepherdesses convenient at your elbow there were more over might blew poodles and ducks and cocks and hens in porcelain there were nymphs by boucher and shepherdesses by grooves very chaste indeed there were muslin curtains and brocade curtains guilt cages with parrots and lovebirds two squealing cockatoos each out squealing and out chattering the other a clock singing tunes on a console table and another booming the hours like great tom on the mantelpiece there was in a word everything that comfort could desire and the most elegant taste devise a london drawing room fitted up without regard to expense is surely one of the noblest and most curious sights of the present day the romans of the lower empire the dear martianess and countesses of louis the fifteenth could scarcely have had a finer taste than our modern folks exhibit and everybody who saw lady claverings reception rooms was forced to confess that they were most elegant and that the prettiest rooms in london lady harley quins lady hanaway wardores or mrs. hodge podgson's own the great railroad priestess wife were not fitted up with a more consummate chastity poor lady clavering meanwhile knew little regarding these things and had a sad want of respect for the splendours around her i only know they cost a precious deal of money major she said to her guest and that i don't advise you to try one of them gossamer guilt chairs i came down on one the night we gave our second dinner party why didn't you come and see us before we'd have asked you to it you would have liked to see mama a breaker chair wouldn't you miss to penn denis dear blanche said with a sneer she was angry because penn was talking and laughing with mama because mama had made a number of blunders in describing the house for a hundred other good reasons i should like to have been by to give lady clavering my arm if she had need of it penn answered with a bow and a blush kill pleasure valier cried the sylphied tossing up her little head i have a fellow feeling with those who fall remember penn said i suffered myself very much from doing so once and you went home to lyre to reconcile you said miss amary penn winced he did not like the remembrance of the consolation which lyre had given to him nor was he very well pleased to find that his rebuff in that quarter was known to the world so as he had nothing to say and reply he began to be immensely interested in the furniture around about him and to praise lady claverings taste with all his might don't praise me said honest lady clavering it is all the upholsterers doings and captain strongs they did it all while we was at the park and and lady rock minster has been here and said the salons are very well said lady clavering with an air and tone of great deference my class and laura has been staying with her penn said it is not the dowager it is the lady rock minster indeed cried major penn denis when he heard this great name of fashion if you have her ladyship's approval lady clavering you cannot be far wrong no no you cannot be far wrong lady rock minster i should say arthur is the very center of the circle of fashion and tastes the rooms are beautiful indeed and the major's voice hushed as he spoke of this great lady and he looked round and surveyed the apartments awfully and respectfully as if he had been at church yes lady rock minster has took us up said lady clavering taken us up mama cried blanche in a shrill voice well taken us up then said my lady it's very kind of her and i dare say we shall like it when we get used to it only at first one don't fancy being took well taken up at all she's going to give our balls for us and wants to invite all our dinners but i won't stand that i will have my old friends and i won't let her send all the cards out and sit mum at the head of my own table you must come to me arthur and major come let me see on the 14th it ain't one of our grand dinners blanche she said looking round at her daughter who bit her lips and frowned very savagely for a sill feed the major with a smile and a bow said he would much rather come to a quiet meeting than to a grand dinner he had had enough of those large entertainments and prefer the simplicity of the home circle i always think a dinner's the best the second day said lady clavering thinking to mend her first speech on the 14th we will be quite a snug little party at which second blunder miss blanche clasped her hands in despair and said oh mama who's it incorrigible major pendenis vowed that he liked snug dinners of all things in the world and confounded her lady's impudence for daring to ask such a man as him to a second day's dinner but he was a man of an economical turn of mind and by thinking himself that he could throw over these people if anything better should offer he accepted with the blandest air as for penn he was not a diner out of 30 years standing as yet and the idea of a fine feast in a fine house was still perfectly welcome to him what was that pretty little quarrel which engaged itself between your worship and mishamery the major asked of penn as they walked away together i thought you used to oh murr in that quarter used to be answered penn with a dandified air is a vague phrase regarding a woman was and is a two very different term sir as regards women's hearts especially thank god they change as we do cried the elder when we took the cape of good hope i recollect there was a lady who talked poisoning herself for your humble servant and but god in three months she ran away from her husband with somebody else don't get yourself entangled with that mishamery she is forward affected and underbred and her character is somewhat never mind what but don't think of her ten thousand pound won't do for you what my good fellow is ten thousand pound i would scarcely pay that girl's milliner's bill with the interest of the money you seem to be a connoisseur in millinery uncle hence it i was sir i was replied the senior and the old warhorse you know never hears the sound of a trumpet but he begins to he he you understand and he gave a killing and somewhat superannuated lear and bow to a carriage that passed them and entered the park lady kathryn martin gales carriage he said monstrous fine girls the daughters they i remember their mother a thousand times hansomer no after my dear fellow with your person and expectations you ought to make a good coup in marriage someday or other and though i wouldn't have this repeated at fair oaks you rogue ha ha a reputation for a little wickedness and for being an ome dangerous don't hurt a young fellow with the women they like it sir they hate a milk soap young men must be young men you know but for marriage continued the veteran moralist that is a very different matter marry a woman with money i've told you before it is as easy to get a rich wife as a poor one and a do-steal more comfortable to sit down to a well-cooked dinner with your little entrees nicely served than to have nothing but a damned cold leg of mutton between you and your wife we shall have a good dinner on the 14th when we dine with sarfrances clavering stick to that my boy in your relations with the family cultivate them but keep them for dining though more of your youthful follies and nonsense about love in a cottage it must be a cottage with a double coach house a cottage of gentility sir said pen quoting the hackneyed ballad of the devil's walk but his uncle did not know that poem though perhaps he might be leading pen upon the very promenade in question and went on with his philosophical remarks very much pleased with the atness of the pupil to whom he addressed them indeed arthur penn denis was a clever fellow who took his color very readily from his neighbor and found the adaptation only too easy orrington the grumbler growled out that pen was becoming such a puppy that soon there would be no bearing him but the truth is the young man's success and dashing manners pleased his elder companion he liked to see pen gay and spirited and brim full of health and life and hope as a man who has long since left off being amused with clown and harlequin still gets a pleasure in watching a child at a pantomime mr penn's former sulkiness disappeared with his better fortune and he bloomed as the sun began to shine upon him end of chapter 38 chapter 39 of the history of penn denis this is a liber vox recording all liber vox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit liber vox.org the history of penn denis by we make peace factory chapter 39 colonel altamont appears and disappears on the day appointed major penn denis who had formed no better engagement an author who desired none arrived together to dine with sir francis clavoring the only tenants of the drawing room when penn and his uncle reached it were sir francis and his wife and our friend captain strong who martha was very glad to see though the major looked very sulkily at strong being by no means well pleased to sit down to dinner with clavoring's dirnd house steward as he irreverently called strong the mr well bore well bore clavoring's country neighbor and brother member of parliament speedily arriving penn denis the elder was somewhat appeased for well bore though perfectly dull and taking no more part in the conversation at dinner and the footman behind his chair was a respectable country gentleman of ancient family and seven thousand a year and the major felt always at ease in such society to these were added other persons of note the dowager lady rock minster who had her reasons for being well with the clavoring family and the lady agnes foker with her son mr harry our old acquaintance mr penn sent could not come is parliamentary duties keeping him at the house duties which sat upon the two other senators very lightly miss blanche amary was the last of the company who made her appearance she was dressed in a killing white silk dress which displayed her pearly shoulders to the utmost advantage foker whisked to penn who regarded her with eyes of evident admiration that he considered her a stunner she chose to be very gracious to arthur upon this day and held out her hand most cordially and talked about dear fair oaks and asked for dear laura and his mother and said she was longing to go back to the country and in fact was entirely simple affectionate and artless harry foker thought he had never seen anybody so amiable and delightful not accustomed much to the society of ladies and ordinarily being done to their presence he found that he could speak before miss amary and became uncommonly lively and talkative even before the dinner was announced and the party descended to the lower ruins he would have longed to give his arm to the fair blanche and conduct her down the broad carpeted stair but she fell to the lot of pen upon this occasion mr. foker being appointed to escort mrs. wellbore wellbore in consequence of his superior rank as an earl's grandson but though he was separated from the object of his desire during the passage downstairs the delighted foker found himself by miss amary's side at the dinner table and flattered himself that he had maneuvered very well in securing that happy place it may be that the move was not his but that it was made by another person blanche had thus the two young men one on each side of her and each tried to render himself gallant and agreeable foker's mama from her place surveying her darling boy was surprised at his vivacity harry talked constantly to his ferret neighbor about the topics of the day seen taglione in the sill feed miss amary bring me that supram of ori again if you please this was addressed to the attendant near him very good can't think where the suprams came from what becomes of the legs of the fowls i wonder she's clipping in the sill feed ain't she and he began very kindly to hum the pretty air which pervades that prettiest of all ballets now faded into the past with that most beautiful and gracious of all dancers will the young folks ever see anything so charming anything so classic anything like taglione miss amary is a silver self said mr penn what a delightful tenor voice you have mr foker said the young lady i'm sure you've been well taught i sing out little myself i should like to sing with you penn remembered that words very similar have been addressed to himself by the young lady and that she had liked to sing with him in former days and sneering within himself he wondered with how many other gentlemen she had sung duets since his time but he did not think fit to put this awkward question aloud and only said with the very tenderness there which he could assume i should like to hear you sing again miss blanche i never heard a voice i like so well as yours i think i thought you liked lauras said miss blanche lauras is a control too and that voice is very often out you know penn said bitterly i've heard a great deal of music in london he continued i'm tired of those professional people they sing too loud or i've grown too old or too blasé one grows old very soon in london miss amary and like all old fellas i only care for the songs i heard in my youth i like english music best i don't care for foreign songs much get me some saddle of mutton said mr foker i adore english ballads of all things said miss amary sing me one of the old songs after dinner will you set pen with an imploring voice shall i sing you an english song after dinner ask the sylphee turning to mr foker i will if you were promised to come up soon and she gave him a perfect broad side of her eyes i'll come up after dinner fast enough he said simply i don't care about much wine afterwards i take my whack at dinner i mean my share you know and when i have had as much as i want i total up to tea i'm a domestic character miss amary my habits were simple and when i'm pleased i'm generally in a good humor ain't i penn that jelly if you please not that one the other with the cherries inside how the deuce do they get those cherries inside the jellies in this way the artless youth prattled on and miss amary listened to him with inexhaustible good humor when the ladies took their departure for the upper regions blanche made the two young men promise faithfully to quit the table soon and departed with kind glances to each she dropped her gloves on foker's side of the table and her handkerchief on pens each had had some little attention paid to him her politeness to mr foker was perhaps a little more encouraging than her kindness to arthur but the benevolent little creature did her best to make both the gentlemen happy foker caught her last glance as she rushed out of the door that bright look passed over mr strong's broad white waistcoat and shot straight at harry foker's the door closed on the charmer he sat down with a sigh and swallowed a bumper of claret as the dinner at which penn and his uncle took their places was not one of our grand parties it had been served at a considerably earlier hour than those ceremonial banquets of the london season which custom has ordained shall scarcely take place before nine o'clock and the company being small and miss blanche anxious to be take herself to her piano in the drawing room giving constant hints to her mother to retreat lady clevering made that signal very speedily so that it was quite daylight yet when the ladies reached the upper apartments from the flower embroidered balconies of which they could command a view of the two parks of the poor couples and children still sauntering in the one and of the equipages of ladies and the horses of dandy's passing through the arch of the other the sun in a word had not set behind the elms of kensington gardens and was still gilding the statue erected by the ladies of england in honor of his grace the duke of wellington when lady clevering and her female friends left the gentleman drinking wine the windows of the dining room were open to let in the fresh air and afforded to the passers-by in the street a pleasant or perhaps tantalizing view of six gentlemen in white waistcoats with a quantity of decanters and a variety of fruits before them little boys as they passed and jumped up at the area railings and took a peep said to one another hi hi jim shouldn't you like to be there and have a cut of that there pineapple the horses and curages of the mobility and gentry passed by conveying them to bell gravy and toilets the policeman with clamping feet patrolled up and down before the mansion the shades of evening began to fall the gas man came and lighted the lamps before sir francis's door the butler entered the dining room and illuminated the antique gothic chandelier over the antique carved oak dining table so that from outside the house you looked inwards upon a night scene of feasting and wax candles and from within you beheld a vision of a calm summer evening and the wall of st. james's park and the sky above in which a star or two was just beginning to twinkle james with folded legs leaning against the door pillar of his master's abode looked forth musingly upon the latter tranquil sight whilst a spectator clinging to the railings examined the former scene policeman x passing gave his attention to neither but fixed it upon the individual holding by the railings and gazing into sir francis clavaring's dining room where strong was laughing and talking away making the conversation for the party the man of the railing was very gorgeously attired with chains jewelry and waist coats which the illumination from the house lighted up to great advantage his boots were shiny he had brass buttons to his coat and large white wristbands over his knuckles and indeed looked so grand that x imagined he beheld a member of parliament or a person of consideration before him whatever his rank however the mp or person of consideration was considerably excited by wine for he lurched and reeled somewhat in his gait and his hat was cocked over his wild and bloodshot eyes in a manner which no sober had ever could assume his copious black hair was evidently surreptitious and his whiskers of the tyrian purple as strong's laughter following after one of his own growl mo came ringing out of window this gentleman without laughed and sniggered in the queerest way likewise and he slapped his thigh and winked at james pence in the portico as much as to say plus my boy isn't that a good story james's attention had been gradually drawn from the moon in the heavens to this sublunary scene and he was puzzled and alarmed by the appearance of the man in shiny boots a whole occasion he remarked afterwards in the servants hall a whole occasion with a feller in the streets is never no good and indeed he was not hired for any such purpose so having surveyed the man for some time who went on laughing reeling nodding his head with tipsy knowingness james looked out of the portico and softly called police man and back into that officer x marched up resolute with one burlin glove stuck in his belt side and james simply pointed with his index finger to the individual who was laughing against the railings not one single word more than policemen did he say but stood there in the calm summer evening pointing calmly a grand sight x advanced to the individual and said now sir we have the kindness to move on the individual who was in perfect good humor did not appear to hear one word which policeman x uttered but nodded and waggled his grinning head at strong until his head almost fell from his head over the area railings now sir move on do you hear cries x in a much more peremptory tone and he touched the stranger gently with one of the fingers enclosed in the gauntlets of the burlin woof he of the many rings instantly started or rather staggered back into what is called an attitude of self-defense and in that position began the operation which is entitled squaring that policeman x and showed himself brave and warlike if unsteady hello keep your hands off a gentleman he said with an oath which need not be repeated move on out of this set x and don't be a blocking up the pavement staring into gentlemen's dining rooms not stare ho ho not stare that is a good one replied the other with a satiric laugh and sneer who's to prevent me from staring looking at my friends if i like not you old high lows friends i just say move on answered x if you touch me i'll pitch into you i will roared the other i tell you i know him all that's sir francis clavvering bernard mp i know him and he knows me and that's strong and that's the young chap that made the round at the ball i say strong strong it's that dirnd altamont cried sir francis within with a start and a guilty look and strong also with a look of annoyance got up from the table and ran out to the intruder a gentleman in a white waistcoat running out from a dining room bare headed a policeman and an individual decently a tired engaged in almost fisticuffs on the pavement were enough to make a crowd even in that quiet neighborhood at half past eight o'clock in the evening and a small mob began to assemble before sir francis clavvering's door for god's sake come in strong said seizing his acquaintance's arm sent for a cab james if you please he added in an under voice to that domestic and carrying the excited gentleman out of the street the outer door was closed upon him and the small crowd began to move away mr strong had intended to convey the stranger into sir francis's private sitting room where the hats of the male guests were awaiting them and having there sooth his friend by blind conversation to have carried him off as soon as the cab arrived but the newcomer was in a great state of wrath at the indignity which had been put upon him and when strong would have let him into the second door said in a tipsy voice that ain't the door that's the dining room door where the drinks going on and i'll go and have some by jove i'll go and have some at this audacity the butler stood aghast in the hall and placed himself before the door but it opened behind him and the master of house made his appearance with anxious looks i will have some by darned i will the intruder was roaring out as sir francis came forward hello clavvering i say i'm come to have some wine with you hey oh boy hey oh corkscrew get us a bottle of the yellow seal your feet the very best a hundred rupees a dozen and no mistake the host reflected a moment over his company there's only well more pendenis and those two lads he thought and with a forced laugh and a piteous look he said well altamont come in i'm very glad to see you i'm sure colonel altamont for the intelligent reader has doubtless long air this discovered in the stranger is excellency the ambassador of the nabab of luck now reeled into the dining room with a triumphant look towards jeans the footman which seemed to say there sir what do you think of that now am i a gentleman or no and sank down into the first vacant chair so francis clavvering timidly stammered out the colonel's name to his guest mr wellbore wellbore and his excellency began drinking wine forthwith and gazing round upon the company now with the most wonderful frowns and anon with the blandest smiles and hiccuped remarks incomiastic of the drink which he was imbibing very singular man has resided long in a native court in india strong said with great gravity the chevalier's presence of mind never deserting him in those indian courts they get very singular habits very said major pendenis dryly and wondering what in goodness name was the company into which he had got mr foca was pleased with the newcomer it's the man who would sing the melee song at the back kitchen he whispered to pen tried this pine sir he then said to colonel altamont it's uncommonly fine pines i've seen him feed pigs on pines said the colonel all the nabab of luck now's pigs are fed on pines strong whisper to major pendenis oh of course the major answered sir francis clavvering was in the meanwhile endeavoring to make an excuse to his brother guest for the newcomer's condition and met with something regarding altamont that he was an extraordinary character very eccentric very had indian habits didn't understand the rules of english society to which old wellbore a shrewd old gentleman who drank his wine with great regularity said that seemed pretty clear then the colonel seeing pens on his face regarded it for a while with as much steadiness as became his condition and said i know you too young fellow i remember you baymouth ball by jingo wanted to fight the frenchman i remember you and he laughed and he squared with his fists and seemed hugely amused in the drunken depths of his mind as these recollections passed or rather reeled across it mr pendenis you remember colonel altamont at baymouth strong said upon which pen bowing rather stiffly said he had the pleasure of remembering that circumstance perfectly what's his name quite the colonel strong named mr pendenis again pendenis pendenis behind altamont roared out to the surprise of everyone and thumping with his fist on the table my name is also pendenis sir said the major whose dignity was exceedingly mortified by the evening's events that he major pendenis should have been asked to such a party and that a drunken man should have been introduced to it my name is pendenis and i will be obliged to you not to curse it too loudly the tipsy man turned round to look at him and as he looked it appeared as if colonel altamont suddenly grew sober he put his hand across his forehead and in doing so displaced somewhat the black wig which he wore and his eyes stared fiercely at the major who in his turn like a resolute old warrior as he was looked at his opponent very keenly and steadily at the end of the mutual inspection altamont began to button up his brass button coat and rising up from his chair suddenly and through the company's astonishment reeled towards the door and issued from it followed by strong all that the latter heard him utter was captain beat captain beat by jingo there had not passed above a quarter of an hour from his strange appearance to his equally sudden departure the two young men and the baronettes of a guest wondered at the scene and could find no explanation for it clevering seemed exceedingly pale and agitated and turned with looks of almost terror towards major pendenis the latter had been eyeing his host keenly for a moment or two do you know him asks the francis of the major i'm sure i've seen the fellow the major replied looking as if he too was puzzled yes i have it he was a deserter from the horse artillery who got into the nevab service i remember his face quite well oh said clevering with a sigh which indicated immense relief of mind and the major looked at him with a twinkle of his sharp old eyes the cab which strong had desired to be called drove away with the chevalier and colonel altamont coffee was brought to the remaining gentleman and they went upstairs to the ladies in the drawing room voker declaring confidentially to penn that this was the rummest go he ever saw which decision penn said laughing showed great discrimination on mr foker's part then according to her promise miss amary made music for the young men voker was enraptured with her performance and kindly joined in the heirs which she sang when he happened to be acquainted with them penn effected to talk aside with others of the party but blanche brought him quickly to the piano by singing some of his own words those which we have given in a previous number indeed in which the cell feed had herself she said set to music i don't know whether the air was hers or how much of it was arranged for her by senior twan cadilla from whom she took lessons but good or bad original or otherwise and delighted mr penn who remained by her side and turned the leaves now for her most deciduously cad how i wish i could write verses like you penn voker side afterwards to his companion if i could do him wouldn't i that's all but i never was adept at writing you see and i'm sorry i was so idle when i was in school no mention was made before the ladies of the curious little scene which had been transacted below stairs although penn was just on the point of describing it to miss amary when that young lady inquired for captain strong who she wished should join her in a duet but chancing to look up towards sir france's clavvering arthur saw a peculiar expression of alarm in the baronet's ordinarily vacuous face and discreetly held his tongue he was rather adult evening well bored went to sleep as he always did at music and after dinner nor did major pendentist entertain the ladies with copious anecdotes and endless little scandalous stories as his want was but sat silent for the most part and appeared to be listening to the music and watching the fair young performer the hour of departure having arrived the major rose regretting that so delightful and evening should have passed away so quickly and addressed a particularly fine compliment to miss amary upon her splendid talents as a singer your daughter lady clavvering he said to that lady is a perfect nightingale a perfect nightingale begat i have scarcely ever heard anything equal to her and her pronunciation of every language begat of every language seems to me to be perfect and the best houses in london must open before a young lady who has such talents and allow an old fellow to say miss amary such a face blanche was as much astonished by these compliments as pen was to whom his uncle a little time since had been speaking in very disparaging terms of the soul the major and the two young men walked home together after mr foker had placed his mother in her carriage and procured a light for an enormous cigar the young gentleman's company or his tobacco did not appear to be agreeable to major pandennis who hired him to scan several times and with a look which plainly indicated that he wished mr foker would take his leave but foker hung on resolutely to the uncle and nephew even until they came to the former's door in berry street where the major wished the lads good night and i say pen he said in a confidential whisper calling his nephew back mind you make a point of calling in gross vener place tomorrow they've been uncommonly civil monsters lee civil and kind pen promised and wondered and the major's door having been closed upon him by morgan foker took pen's arm and walked with him for some time silently puffing his cigar at last when they had reached chairing cross on arthur's way home to the temple harry foker relieved himself and broke out with that you low jim upon poetry and those regrets regarding a misspent youth which have just been mentioned and all the way along the strand and up to the door pen's very staircase in lamb court temple young harry foker did not cease to speak about singing and blanche haemary end of chapter 39 chapter 40 of the history of pendentus this is a libra vox recording all libra vox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit libra vox.org the history of pendentus by william make peace thackery chapter 40 relates to mr harry foker's affairs since that fatal but delightful night in gross vener place mr harry foker's heart had been in such a state of agitation as you would hardly have thought so great a philosopher could endure when we remember what good advice he had given to pen in former days how an early wisdom and knowledge of the world had manifested itself in this gifted youth how a constant course of self-indulgence such as becomes a gentleman of his means and expectations ought by right to have increased his cynicism and made him with every succeeding day of his life care less and less for every individual in the world with the single exception of mr harry foker one may wonder that he should fall into the mishap to which most of us are subject once or twice in our lives and describe his great mind about a woman but foker though early wise was still a man he could no more escape the common lot than Achilles or ajax or lord nelson or adam our first father and now it's time being come young harry became a victim to love the all conqueror when he went to the back kitchen that night after quitting arthur pendentus at his staircase door in lamb court the gin twist and devil turkey had no charms for him the jokes of his companions fell flatly on his ear and when mr hajin the singer of the body snatcher had a new chant even more dreadful and humorous than that famous composition foker although he appeared his friend and said bravo hajin as common politeness and his position as one of the chiefs of the back kitchen bound him to do he had never distinctly heard one word of the song which under its title of the cat in the cupboard hajin has since rendered so famous late and very tired he slipped into his private apartments at home and saw the downy pillar but his slumbers were disturbed by the fever of his soul and the very instant that he woke from his agitated sleep the image of miss aimary presented itself to him and said here i am i am your princess in beauty you have discovered me and shall care for nothing else hereafter evans how stale and distasteful his former pursuits and friendships appeared to him he'd not been up to the present time much accustomed to the society of females of his own rank and life when he spoke of such he called the modest women that virtue which let us hope they possessed had not hitherto compensated to mr foker for the absence of more lively qualities which most of his own relatives did not enjoy in which he found in may demoiselle the ladies of the theater his mother though good and tender did not amuse her boy his cousins the daughters of his maternal uncle the respectable earl of raw showville we read him beyond measure one was blue and a geologist one was a horse woman and smoked cigars one was exceedingly low church and had the most heterodox views on religious matters at least so the other said who was herself of the very highest church faction and made the cupboard in her room into an oratory and fasted on every friday in the year their paternal house of drummington foker could very seldom be got to visit he swore he'd rather go on the treadmill than stay there he was not much beloved by the inhabitants lord erith lord rachelville's heir considered his cousin a low person of deplorably vulgar habits and manners while foker and worth equal reason voted erith a prig and a dullard the nightcap of the house of commons the speaker's the program the dreariest of philanthropic spouters nor could george robert earl of graves and and rachelville ever forget that on one evening when he condescended to play at billiards with his nephew that young gentleman poked his lordship in the side with his cue and said well old cock i've seen many a bad stroke in my life but i never saw such a bad one as that there he played the game out with angelic sweetness of temper for harry was his guest as well as his nephew but he was nearly having a fit in the night and he kept to his own rooms until young harry quitted drummington on his return to oxbridge where the interesting youth was finishing his education at the time when the occurrence took place it was an awful blow to the venerable earl the circumstance was never alluded to in the family he shun foker whenever he came to see them in london or in the country and could hardly be brought to gasp out of how do you do to the young blasphemer but he would not break his sister agnes's heart by banishing harry from the family altogether nor indeed could he afford to break with mr foker senior between whom and his lordship there had been many private transactions producing an exchange of bank checks for mr foker and autographs from the earl himself with the letters i or you written over his illustrious signature besides the four daughters of lord graves and whose various qualities have been enumerated in the former paragraph his lordship was blessed with a fifth girl the lady anna milton who from her earliest years of nursery had been destined to peculiar position in life it was ordained between her parents and her aunt that when mr harry foker attained a proper age lady am should become his wife the idea had been familiar to remind when she yet wore pinafores and when harry the dirtiest of little boys used to come back with black eyes from school to drummington or to his father's health of logwood where lady anna lived much with her aunt both of the young people coincided with the arrangement proposed by the elders without any protests or difficulty it no more entered lady anna's mind to question the order of her father than it would have entered esters to dispute the commands of a ha siras the apparent of the house of foker was also obedient for when the old gentleman said harry your uncle and i have agreed that when you're of a proper age you'll marry lady anna she won't have any money but she's good blood and a good one to look at and i shall make you comfortable if you refuse you'll have your mother's jointure in 200 a year during my life harry who knew that his side of the man a few words was yet implicitly to be trusted acquiesced at once in the parental decree and said well sir if anna's agreeable i say ditta she's not a bad-looking girl and she has the best blood in england sir your mother's blood your own blood sir said the brewer there's nothing like it sir well sir as you like it harry replied when you want me please ring the bell only there's no hurry and i hope you'll give us a long day i should like to have my fling out before i'm married fling away harry answered the benevolent father nobody prevents you do they and so very little more was set upon this subject and mr harry pursued those amusement in life which suited him best and hung up a little picture of his cousin in a sitting room amidst the french prince the favorite actresses and dancers the racing and coaching works of art which suited his taste informed his gallery it wasn't insignificant little picture representing a simple round face with ringlets and it made as it must be confessed to very poor figure by the side of mademoiselle patito dancing over a rainbow or mademoiselle radoa grinning in red boots and a lancers cap being engaged and disposed of lady ann milton did not go out so much in the world as her sisters and often stayed at home in london at the parental house in gaunt square when her mama with the other ladies went abroad they talked and they danced with one man after another and the men came and went and the stories about them were various but there was only this one story about ann she was engaged to harry foker she never was to think about anybody else it was not a very amusing story well the instant foker awoke on the day after lady clavvering's dinner there was blanche's image glaring upon him with its clear gray eyes and winning smile there was her tune ringing in his ears yet round about the spot off times i hover off times i hover which poor foker began piteously to hum as he sat up in his bed under the crimson silken coverlet opposite him was a french print of a turkish lady and her greek lover surprised by a venerable ottoman the lady's husband on the other wall was a french print of a gentleman and lady writing and kissing each other at full gallop all around the chase bedroom were more french prints either portraits of gauzy nymphs of the opera or lovely illustrations of the novels or may happen english chef dover or two in which miss calvary of t-r-e-o would be represented in tight pantaloons in her favorite page part or miss rouge ma as venus their value enhanced by the signatures of these ladies maria calvary or frederica rouge ma inscribed underneath the prints in an exclusive facsimile such were the pictures in which anas terry delighted he was no worse than many of his neighbors he was an idle jovial kindly fast man about town and if his rooms were rather profusely decorated with works of french art so that simple lady agnes's mama on entering the apartments where her darling sat enveloped in fragrant clouds of latakia was often devoted by the novelties which should be held there why it must be remembered that he was richer than most young men and could better afford to gratify his taste a letter from miss calvary written in a very dégage style of spelling and handwriting scrolling freely over the filigree paper and commencing by calling mr harry her dear hokey pokey pokey lay on his bed table by his side amidst keys sovereigns cigar cases and a bit of verbina which miss amry had given him and reminding him of the arrival of the day when he was to stand that dinner at the elephant and castle at richman which he had promised a card for a private box at miss rouge ma's approaching benefit a bundle of tickets for ben budgins night the north lancashire pippin at martin faunces the three-cornered hat in saint martin's lane where conky sam dick the nailer and dead man the worcestershire knobber would put on the gloves and the lovers of the good old british sport were invited to attend these and sundry other memoirs that mr focus pursuits and pleasure lay on the table by his side when he woke ah how faint all these pleasures seem now what did he care for conky sam or the worcestershire knobber what for the french prince ogling him from all sides of the room those regular stunning slap up out and out is and calverly spelling bad and calling him hokey pokey come found her impudence the idea of being engaged to a dinner at the elephant and castle at richman with that old woman who was seven and thirty years old if she was a day filled his mind with dreary disgust now instead of that pleasure which he had only yesterday expected to find from the entertainment when his fond mama beheld her boy that morning she remarked on the pallor of his cheek and the general gloom of his aspect why do you go on playing billiards at that wicked sprouts lady agnes asked my dearest child those billiards will kill you i'm sure they will it isn't the billiards harry said gloomily then it's the dreadful back kitchen said the lady agnes i've often thought do you know harry of writing to the landlady and begging that she would have the kindness to put only very little wine in the negus which you take and see that you have your shawl on before you get into your broom do man mrs cuts is a most kind motley woman harry said but it isn't the back kitchen either he had a with a ghastly sigh as lady agnes never denied her son anything and fell into all his ways with the fondest acquiescence she was rewarded by a perfect confidence on a young harry's part who never thought to disguise from her a knowledge of the haunts which he frequented and on the contrary brought her home choice anecdotes from the clubs and billiards rooms which the simple lady relished if she did not understand my son goes to sprouts she would say to her confidential friends all the young men go to sprouts after their balls it is de rigueur my dear and they play billiards as they used to play macau and hazard in mr fox's time yes my dear father often told me that they sat up always until nine o'clock the next morning with mr fox at brooks's whom i remember at drummington when i was a little girl in a buff waistcoat and black sat in small clothes my brother erith never played as a young man nor set up late he had no health for it but my boy must do as everybody does you know yes and then he often goes to a place called the back kitchen frequented by all the wits and authors you know whom one does not see in society but whom it is a great privilege and pleasure for harry to meet and there he hears the questions of the day discussed and my dear father often said that it was our duty to encourage literature and he had hoped to see the late dr johnson at drummington only dr johnson died yes and mr shared and came over and drank a great deal of wine everybody drank a great deal of wine in those days and papaz wine merchants bill was 10 times as much as erith's is who gets it as he wants it from fortnum and masons and doesn't keep any stock at all that was an uncommon good dinner we had yesterday man the artful harry broke out their clear seems better than ours move flay will put too much tarragon into everything the supreme de billiard was very good uncommon and the sweets were better than move flay's sweets did you taste the plombier man and the maraschino jelly stunningly good that maraschino jelly lady agnes expressed her agreement in these as in almost all other sentiments of her son who continued the artful conversation saying very handsome house that of cleverings furniture i should say got up regardless of expense magnificent display of plate man the lady is centered to all these propositions very nice people the cleverings hmm said lady agnes i know what you mean lady c ain't distangi exactly but she is very good nature oh very mama said who was herself one of the most good nature of women answer francis he don't talk much before ladies but after dinner he comes out uncommon strong man a highly agreeable well-informed man when will you ask them to dinner look out for an early day man and looking into lady agnes's pocketbook he chose a day only a fortnight hence and age that fortnight seemed to the young gentleman when the cleverings were to be invited to grows from her street the obedient lady agnes wrote the required invitation she was accustomed to do so without consulting her husband who had his own society and habits knew left his wife to see her own friends alone harry looked at the card but there was an omission in the invitation which did not please him you have not asked miss what do you call him miss emory lady cleverings daughter oh that little creature lady agnes cried no i think not harry we must ask miss emory voker said i i want to ask pendennis and and he's very sweet upon her don't you think she sings very well man i thought it rather forward and didn't listen to her singing she only sang at you and mr pendennis it seemed to me but i will ask her if you wish harry and so miss emory's name was written on the card with her mother's this piece of diplomacy being triumphantly executed harry embraced his fond parent with the utmost affection and retired to his own apartments where he stretched himself on his ottoman and labruding silently sighing for the day which was to bring the fair miss emory under his paternal roof and devising a hundred while schemes for meeting her on his return from making the grand tour mr foker jr had brought with him a polyglot valet who took the place of stupid and condescended to wait at dinner a tired and shirt fronts of worked muslin with many goals doesn't change upon his master and the elders of the family this man who was of no particular country and spoke all languages and differently ill made himself useful to mr harry in a variety of ways read all of the artful youth's correspondence knew his favorite haunts and the addresses of his acquaintance and officiated at the private dinners which the young gentleman gave as harry lay upon his sofa after his interview with his mama robed in a wonderful dressing gown and puffing his pipe in gloomy silence ana told two must have remarked that something affected his master's spirits though he did not portray any ill-bred sympathy with harry's agitation of mind when harry began to dress himself in his out-of-door morning costume he was very hard indeed to please and particularly severe and snappish about his toilet he tried and cursed pantaloons of many different stripes tracks and colors all the boots were villainously varnished the shirts too loud and patterned he sent it as linen and person of peculiar richness this day and what must have been the valet's astonishment went after some blushing and hesitation on harry's part the young gentleman asked i say ana told when i engaged you didn't you hem didn't you say that you could dress him dressed hair the valet said yes he could mr. folker said in an easy manner and the valet wondering whether his master was in love or was going masquerading went in search of the articles first from the old butler who waited upon mr. folker senior on whose ball peaked the tongs would have scarcely found a hundred hairs to see and finally of the lady who had the charge of the meek arbor in front of the lady agnes and the tongs being got mr. ana told twisted his young master's locks until he had made harry's head as curly as a negro's after which the youth dressed himself with the utmost care and splendor and proceeded to sell the out at what time salae ordered the drag sir to be to miss calverly's door sir the attendant whispered as his master was going forth confounder put the dinner off i can't go said folker no hang it i must go points and a rouge mall and never so many more are coming the drag at pelham corner at six o'clock ana told the drag was not one of mr. folker's own equipages but was hired from a livery stable for festive purposes folker however put his own carriage into requisition that morning and for what purpose does the kind reader suppose why to drive down to lamb court temple taking gross vener place by the way which lies in the exact direction of the temple from gross vener street as everybody knows where he just had the pleasure of peeping upwards at miss aimery's pink window curtains having achieved which satisfactory feat he drove off to penn's chambers why did he want to see his dear friend penn so much why did he yearn and long after him and did it seem necessary to focus very existence that he should see penn that morning having parted with him in perfect health on the night previews penn had lived two years in london and folker had not paid half a dozen visits to his chambers what sent him to the now in such a hurry what if any young ladies read this page i've only to inform them that when the same mishap befalls them which now had for more than 12 hours befallen harry folker people will grow interesting to them for whom they did not care six pence on the day before as on the other hand persons of whom they fancied themselves fawn will be found to have become insipid and disagreeable then you dearest Eliza or maria of the other day to whom you wrote letters and sent locks of hair yards long will on a sudden be as indifferent to you as your stupidest relation whilst on the contrary about his relations you will begin to feel such a warm interest such a loving desire to ingratiate yourself with his mama such a liking for that dear kind old man his father if he is in the habit of visiting at any house what advances you will make in order to visit there too if he has a married sister you will like to spend long mornings with her you will fatigue your servant by sending notes to her for which there will be the most pressing occasion twice with rice in a day you will cry if your mama objects do you are going too often to see his family the only one of them you will dislike is perhaps his younger brother who is at home for the holidays and he will persist in staying in the room when you come to see your dear newfound friend his darling second sister something like this will happen to you young ladies or at any rate let us hope it may yes you must go through the hot fits and the cold fits of that pretty fever your mother's if they would acknowledge it have passed through it before you were born your dear papa being the object of the passion of course who could it be but he and as you suffer so were your brothers in their way and after their kind more selfish than you more eager and headstrong than you they will rush on their destiny when the doom charmer makes her appearance or if they don't and you don't have and help you as the gambler said of his dice to love and win is the best thing to love and lose is the next best you don't die of the complaint or very few do the generous wounded heart suffers and survives it and he is not a man or she a woman who is not conquered by or who does not conquer it in his time now then if you ask why henry foker ask why it was in such a hurry to see arthur pendennis and felt such a sudden value and esteem for him there is no difficulty in saying it was because pen had become really valuable in mr. foker's eyes because the pen was not the rose he had been near that fragrant flower of love was not he in the habit of going to her house in london did he not live near her in the country know all about this enchantress what i wonder would lady and milton mr. foker's cousin and pray tendu have said if her ladyship had known all that was going on in the bosom of that funny little gentleman alas when foker reached lamb court leaving his carriage for the admiration of the little clerks who were lounging in the archway that leads thence into flag court which leads into upper temple lane warrington was in the chambers but pen was absent pen was gone to the printing office to see his proof would foker have a pipe and should the laundress go to the cock and get him some beer warrington asked remarking with a pleased surprise the splendid toilet of the scented and shiny booty young aristocrat but foker had not the slightest wish for a beer or tobacco he had very important business he rushed away to the pal mel gazette office still bent upon finding pen pen had quitted that place foker wanted him that they might go together to call upon lady clavin foker went away disconsolate and wild away an hour or two vaguely at clubs and when it was time to pay a visit he thought it would be but decent and polite to drive through grows in their place and leave a card upon lady clavin he had not the courage to ask to see her when the door was opened he only delivered two cards with mr. Henry foker engraved upon them two jeans in a speechless agony james received the tickets bowing his powdered head the varnished doors closed upon him the beloved object was as far as ever from him though so near he thought he heard the tones of a piano and about siren singing coming from the drawing room and sweeping over the balcony shrubbery of geraniums he would have liked to stop and listen but it might not be drive to tato sauce he said to the groom in a voice smothered with emotion and bring my pony round he added as the man drove rapidly away as good luck would have it that splendid barouche of lady clavin's which has been inadequately described in a former chapter drove up to her lady ship's door just as foker mounted the pony which was in waiting for him he bestowed the fiery animal and dodged about the arch of the green park keeping the carriage well in view until he saw lady clavin enter and with her whose could be that angel form but the enchantresses clad in a sort of gossamer with a pink bonnet and a light blue parasol but miss aimery the carriage took its fair owners to madame rigardong's cap and lace shop to mrs woesley's berlin worsted shop who knows to what other resorts of female commerce then it went into ices at hunters for lady clavin was somewhat floored in her taste and amusements and not only liked to go abroad in the most showy carriage in london but that the public should see her in it too and so in a white bonnet with a yellow feather she ate a large pink ice in the sunshine before hunter's door till foker on his pony and the red jacket who accompanied him were almost tired of dodging then at last he made her way into the park and the rapid foker made his dash forward what to do just to get a nod of recognition from miss aimery and her mother to cross them a half dozen times in the drive to watch and ogle them from the other side of the ditch where the horsemen assemble when the band plays in kensington gardens what is the use of looking at a woman in a pink bonnet across a ditch what is the earthly good to be got out of a mod of the head strange that men will be contented with such pleasures or if not contented at least that they will be so eager in seeking them not one word did harry he's so fluent of conversation ordinarily changed with his charm on that day mutely he beheld her return to her carriage and drive away among rather ironical salutes from the young men in the park one said that the indian widow was making the paternal rupee spend rapidly another said that she ought to have burned herself alive and left the money to her daughter this one asked who clevering was and old tom eels who knew everybody and never missed a day in the park on his gray cop kindly said that clevering had come into an estate overhead in heels and mortgage that there were devilish ugly stories about him when he was a young man and that it was reported of him that he had a share in a gambling house and had certainly shown the white feather in his regiment he plays still he is in a hell every night almost mr eels added i should think so since his marriage said a wag he gives devilish good dinner set focus striking up for the honor of his host of yesterday i dare say and i dare say he doesn't ask eels the wag said i say eels do you dine at cleverings at the beagams i dine there said mr eels who would have dined with b elsie buff if sure about good cook and when he came away would have painted his host blacker than fate had made him you might you know although you do abuse himself continued the wag they say it's very pleasant claren goes to sleep after dinner the beagam gets tipsy with cherry brandy and the young lady sings songs for the young gentleman she sings well don't she foe slap up said foe i tell you what points she sings like a what are you calling you know what i mean like a mermaid you know but that's not her name i never heard a mermaid sing mr points the wag replied whoever heard a mermaid eels you are an odd fella did you don't make a lark or me hang it points said foe ker turning red and with tears almost in his eyes you know what i mean it's those what's his names in homo you know i never said i was a good scholar and nobody ever said of you my boy mr points remarked and foe ker striking spurs into his pony countered the way down rotten row his mind agitated with various emotions ambitions mortifications he was sorry that he had not been good at his books in early life that he might have cut out all those chaps who were about her and who talked the languages and wrote poetry and painted pictures in her album and and that what am i thought little foe ker compared to her she's all souls she is you can write poetry or compose music as easy as i could drink a glass of beer beer dammy that's all i'm fit for his beer i'm a poor ignorant little beggar good for nothing but foe ker's entire i misspent my youth and used to get the chaps to do my exercises and what's the consequences now oh harry foe ker what a confounded little fool you have been as he made this jury so little creed he had counted out of rotten row into the park and there was on the point of writing down a large old roomy family carriage of which he took no heed when a jury of worries cried out harry harry and looking up he beheld his aunt the lady rocherville and two of her daughters of whom the one who spoke was harry's betrothed the lady ann he started back with a pale scared look as a truth about which he had not thought during the whole day came across him there was his fate there in the back seat of that carry what is the matter harry why are you so pale you've been raking and smoking too much you wicked boy said lady ann foe ker said how do you aunt how do you ann in a perturbed manner muttered something about oppressing engagement indeed he saw by the park clock that he must have been keeping his party in the drag waiting for nearly an hour and waved goodbye the little man and the little pony were out of sight in an instant the great carriage rolled away nobody inside was very much interested about his coming or going the count is being occupied with her spaniel the lady lucy's thoughts and eyes being turned upon a volume of sermons and those of the lady ann upon a new novel which the sister that's just procured from the library end of chapter 40