Chapter 73 of the History of Pendentis. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. The History of Pendentis by William Makepeace Thackeray. Chapter 73. Mr. and Mrs. Sam Huckster. Dear Blanche, Arthur wrote, You are always reading and dreaming pretty dramas and exciting romances in real life. Are you now prepared to enact a part of one? And not the pleasantest part, dear Blanche, that in which the heroine takes possession of her father's palace and wealth and introducing her husband to the loyal retainers and faithful vassals greets her happy bridegroom with all of this is mine and thine. But the other character, that of the luckless lady who suddenly discovers that she is not the prince's wife but Claude Mel nuts the beggars, that of Al Nascar's wife who comes in just as her husband has kicked over the tray of porcelain, which was to be the making of his fortune. But stay Al Nascar, who kicked down the china, was not a married man. He'd cast his eye on the vizier's daughter and his hopes of her went to the ground with the shattered bowls and tea cups. Will you be the vizier's daughter and refuse and laugh to scorn Al Nascar? Or will you be the lady of Leon and love the penniless Claude Mel nuts? I will act that part if you like. I will love you my best in return. I will do my all to make your humble life happy for humble it will be. At least the odds are against any other conclusion. We shall live and die in a poor prosy humdrum way. There will be no stars and epaulets for the hero of our story. I shall write one or two more stories which will presently be forgotten. I shall be called to the bar and try to get on in my profession, perhaps someday if I am very lucky and work very hard, which is absurd. I may get a colonial appointment and you may be an Indian judge's lady. Meanwhile, I shall buy back the Palmol Gazette. The publishers are tired of it since the death of poor Shandon and will sell it for a small sum. Warrington will be my right hand and write it up to a respectable sale. I will introduce you to Mr. Finucane, the sub-editor, and I know who in the end will be Mrs. Finucane, a very nice gentle creature who has lived sweetly through a sad life. And we will jog on, I say, and look out for better times and earn our living decently. You shall have the opera boxes and superintend the fashionable intelligence and break your little heart in the poet's corner. Shall we live over the offices? There are four very good rooms, a kitchen and a garret for Laura in Catherine Street in the Strand, or would you like a house in the Waterloo Road? It would be very pleasant, only there is that half-penny-toe at the bridge. The boys may go to King's College. Mantho, does all this read to you like a joke? I, dear Blanche, it is no joke and I am sober and telling the truth. My dreams are gone, our carriage has whirled out of sight like Cinderella's. Our house in Belgravia has been whisked away into the air by a malevolent genius and I am no more a Member of Parliament than I am a Bishop on his bench in the House of Lords or a Duke with a garter at his knee. You know pretty well what my property is and your own little fortune. We may have enough with those two to live in decent comfort, to take a cab sometimes and not to see our friends and not to deny ourselves an omnibus when we are tired. But that is all. Is that enough for you, my little dainty lady? I doubt sometimes whether you can bear the life which I offer you, at least it is fear that you should know what it will be. If you say yes, Arthur, I will follow your fate whatever it may be and be a loyal and loving wife to aid and cheer you, come to me, dear Blanche, and do my duty to you. If not, and you look to a higher station, I must not bar. Blanche's fortune I will stand in the crowd and see your Lady's ship go to court when you are presented and you shall give me a smile from your chariot window. I saw Lady Mirabelle going to the drawing room last season, the happy husband at her side, glittered with stars and cordons, all the flowers in the garden bloomed in the coachman's bosom. And the chariot or walk on foot and mend your husband's stockings. I cannot tell you now afterwards I might should the day come when we may have no secrets from one another, what has happened within the last few hours which has changed all my prospects in life, but so it is that I have learned something which forces me to give up the plans which I had formed and many vain and ambitious hopes in which I have been indulging. I have written and dispatched a letter to Sir Francis Clevering saying that I cannot accept his seat in Parliament until after my marriage. In like manner I cannot and will not accept any larger fortune with you than that which has always belonged to you since your grandfather's death and the birth of your half-brother. Your good mother is not in the least aware, I hope she never may be of the reasons which force me to this very strange decision. They arise from a painful circumstance which is attributable to none of our faults but having once befallen they are as fatal and irreparable as that shock which overset honest Al Nascar's porcelain and shattered all his hopes beyond the power of mending. I write gaily enough for there is no use in bewailing such a hopeless mischance we have not drawn the great prize in the lottery, dear Blanche, but I shall be contented enough without it if you can be so. And I repeat with all my heart that I will do my best to make you happy. And now what news shall I give you? My uncle is very unwell and takes my refusal of the seat in Parliament in sad dudgeon. The scheme was his poor old gentleman and he naturally bemoans its failure. But Warrington-Law and I had a council of war they know this awful secret and back me in my decision you must love George as you love what is generous and upright and noble and as for Laura she must be our sister Blanche, our saint, our good angel with two such friends at home what need we care for the world without or who is member for Clevering or who is asked or not asked to the great balls of the season to this frank communication came back the letter from Blanche to Laura and one to pen himself which perhaps his own letter justified you are spoiled by the world Blanche wrote you do not love your poor Blanche as she would be loved or you would not offer thus lightly to take her or to leave her no Arthur you love me not a man of the world you have given me your plighted trough and are ready to redeem it but that entire affection that love whole and abiding where is that vision of my youth I am but a pastime of your life and I would be it's all but a fleeting thought and I would be your whole soul I would have our two hearts one but my Arthur how lonely yours is how little you give me of it you speak of our parting with a smile on your lip of our meeting and you care not to hasten it is life but disillusioned then and are the flowers of our garden faded away I have wept I have prayed I have passed sleepless hours I have shed bitter bitter tears to you I bring the gushing poise of my being the yearnings of the soul that longs to be loved that pines for love love love beyond all that flings itself at your feet and cries love me Arthur your heart beats no quicker at the kneeling appeal of my love your proud eye is dimmed by no tear of sympathy you accept my soul's treasure as though twer draws not the pearls from fathomable deeps of affection not the diamonds from the caverns of the heart you treat me like a slave and bid me bow to my master is this the garden of a free maiden is this the price of a life's passion ah me when was it otherwise when did love meet with thought but disappointment could I hope on fool to be the exception to the lot of my race and lay my fever bra on a heart that comprehended my own foolish girl that I was one by one all the flowers of my young life have faded away and this the last the sweetest the dearest the fondly the madly loved the wildly cherished where is it but no more of this heed not my bleeding heart bless you bless you always Arthur I will write more when I am more collected my racking brain renders thought almost impossible I long to see Laura she will come to us directly we return from the country will she not and you cold one be the words of this letter were perfectly clear and written in Blanche's neatest hand upon her scented paper and yet the meaning of the composition not a little puzzle pen did Blanche mean to accept or to refuse his polite offer her phrases either meant that pen did not love her and she declined him or that she took him and sacrificed herself to him cold as he was he laughs sardonically over the letter and over the transaction which occasioned he laughed to think how fortune had jilted him and how he deserved his slippery fortune he turned over and over the musky guilt edged riddle it amused his humor he enjoyed it as if it had been a funny story he was thus seated twiddling the queer manuscript in his hand joking grimly to himself when a servant came in with a card from a gentleman who wished to speak to him very particularly and if pen had gone out into the passage he would have seen sucking his stick rolling his eyes and showing great marks of anxiety his old acquaintance Mr. Samuel Huckster Mr. Huckster on particular business pray beg Mr. Huckster to come in said pen amused rather and not the last so when poor Sam appeared before him pray take a chair said pen in his most superb manner in what way cannot be of service to you I'd rather not speak before the flunk before the man Mr. Pendennis on which Mr. Arthur's attendant quitted the room I'm in a fix said Mr. Huckster gloomily indeed she sent me to you continued the young surgeon what fanny is she well I was coming to see her but I have had a great deal of business in London I heard of you through my governor and Jack hobnall broke in Huckster I wish you joy Mr. Pendennis both of the borough and the lady sir Fanny wishes you joy too he added with something of a blush there's many a slip between the cup and the lip who knows what may happen Mr. Huckster or who will sit in parliament for clattering next session you can do anything with my governor continued Mr. Huckster you got him Clevering Park the old boy was very much pleased sir at your calling him in hobnall wrote me so do you think you could speak to the governor for me Mr. Pendennis and tell him what I've gone and done it sir said Huckster with a particular look you you don't mean to say you have you have done any wrong to that dear little creature sir said Penn starting up in a great fury I hope not said Huckster with but I've married her and I know there will be an awful shindy at home it was agreed that I should be taken into partnership when I passed the college and it was to have been Huckster and son but I would have it confounded it's all over now and the old boys wrote me that he's coming up to town for drugs he will be here tomorrow and then it must all come out and when did this event happen as Penn not over well pleased most likely that a person who had some portion of his good races should have transferred her allegiance and consoled herself for his loss last Thursday was five weeks it was two days after Miss Aimee came to Shepherd's Inn Huckster answered Penn remembered that Blanche had written and mentioned her visit I was called in Huckster said I was in the inn looking after oh causes leg and about something else too very likely and I met strong who told me there was a woman taken ill in chambers and went up to give her my professional services it was the old lady who attends Miss Aimee her housekeeper or some such thing she was taken with strong hysterics I found her kicking and screaming like a good one in strong chamber along with him and Colonel Altamont and Miss Aimee crying and as pale as a sheet and Altamont dreaming about a regular kick up they were two hours in the chambers and the old woman went whooping off in a cab she was much worse than the young one I called in place next day to see if I could be of any service but they were gone without so much as thanking me and the day after I had business of my own to attend to a bad business too said Mr. Huckster gloomily but it's done and can't be undone and we must make the best of it she is known the story for a month thought Penn with a sharp pang of grief and a gloomy sympathy this accounts for her letter of today she will not implicate her father or divulge his secret she wishes to let me off from the marriage and finds a sex the generous girl do you know who Altamont is sir asked Huckster after the pause during which Penn had been thinking of his own affairs Fanny and I have talked him over and we can't help fancying that it smizzes Lightfoot's first husband come to life again and she who has just married a second perhaps Lightfoot won't be very sorry for it said Huckster looking savagely at Arthur for the demon of jealousy was still in possession of his soul and now and more than ever since his marriage the poor fellow fancy that Fanny's heart belonged to his rival let us talk about your affairs sit Penn show me how I can be of any service to you Huckster let me congratulate you on your marriage I am thankful that Fanny who is so good so fascinating so kind a creature has found an honest man and a gentleman who will make her happy show me what I can do to help you she thinks you can sir said Huckster accepting Penn's proffered hand and I'm very much obliged to you I'm sure and that you might talk over my father and break the business to him and my mother who always has her back up about being a clergyman's daughter Fanny ain't of a good family I know and not up to us in breeding in that but she's a Huckster now the wife takes the husband's rank of course said Penn and with a little practice in society continued Huckster imbibing his stick she'll be as good as any girl in clustering you should hear her sing and play on the piano did you ever oh Bose taught her and she'll do on the stage if the governor was to throw me over but I'd rather not have her there she can't help being a co-cat Mr. Penn Dennis she can't help it dammy sir I'll be bound to say that two or three of the Bartholomew chaps that I've brought into my place are sitting with her now even Jack Linton that I took down as my best man is as bad as the rest and she will go on singing and making eyes at him it's what Bose says if there were 20 men in a room and one not taking notice of her she wouldn't be satisfied until the 20th was at her elbow you should have her mother with her said Penn laughing she must keep the lot she can't see so much of her family she used I can't you know sir go on with that lot consider it my rank in life said Huckster putting a very dirty hand up to his chin oh Fay said Mr. Penn who was infinitely amused and concerning whom Matata nominate and of course concerning nobody else in the world the fable was narrated as the two gentlemen were in the midst of this colloquy another not came to Penn's door and his servant presently announced Mr. Bose the old man followed slowly his pale face blushing and his hand trembling somewhat as he took Penn's he coughed and wiped his face in his jacked cotton pocket hatred and sat down with his hands on his knees the sun shining on his bald head Penn looked at the homely figure with no small sympathy and kindness this man too has had his grief his wounds Arthur thought this man too has brought his genius and his heart and laid them at a woman's feet where she's spurned them the chance of life has gone against him and the prizes with that creature yonder Fanny's bridegroom thus mutely apostrophized had winked meanwhile with one eye at old Bose and was driving holes in the floor with the cane which he loved so we have lost Mr. Bose and here is the lucky winner Penn said looking hard at the old man here is the lucky winner sir as you say I suppose you have come from my place past Huckster who having winked at Bose with one eye now favorite Penn with a wink of the other a wink which seemed to say infatuated oh boy you understand overhead and ears in love with her poor old fool yes I've been there ever since you went away it was Mrs. Sam who sent me after you who said that she thought you might be doing something stupid something like yourself Huckster there's as big fools as I am growl the young surgeon a few perhaps said the old man not many let us trust yes she sent me after you for fear you should have then Mr. Penn Dennis and I dare say because she thought you wouldn't give her message to him and beg him to go and see her and she knew I would take her Aaron did he tell you that sir Huckster blushed scarlet and covered his confusion with an implication Penn laughed the scene suited his bitter humor more and more I have no doubt Mr. Huckster was going to tell me Arthur said and very much flattered I'm sure I shall be to pay my respects to his wife it's in Charter House Lane over the Bakers on the right hand side as you go from St. John Street continue bows without any pity you know Smithfield Mr. Penn Dennis St. John Street leads into Smithfield Dr. Johnson has been down the street many a time with ragged shoes and a bundle of penny aligning for the gents magazine you literally gents are better off now a you write in your cabs and wear yellow kid gloves now I've known so many brave and good men fail and imposter succeed that you mistake me if you think I'm puffed up by my own personal good luck old friend Arthur said sadly do you think the prizes of life are carried by the most deserving instead of that mean test of prosperity for merit you must feel that you are as good as I I have never questioned it it is you that are peevish against the freaks of fortune and grudge the good luck that befalls others it is not the first time you have unjustly accused me bows perhaps you are not far wrong sir the old fellow wiping his ball forehead I'm thinking about myself and grumbling most men do when they get on that subject here's the fellow that's got the prize in the lottery here's the fortunate youth I don't know what you are driving at Huckster said who had been much puzzled as the above remarks pass between his two companions perhaps not said bows driving Mrs. H sent me here to look after you and to see that you brought that little message to Mr. Penn Dennis which you didn't you see and so she was right women always are they've always a reason for everything why sir he said turning round to Penn with a sneer she had a reason even for giving me that message I was sitting with her after you left us very quiet and comfortable I was talking away and she was mending your shirts when your two young friends Jack Linden and Bob Blades looked in from Bartholomew's and then it was she found out that she had this message to send you needn't hurry yourself she don't want you back again they'll stay these two hours I dare say Huckster rose with great perturbation at this news and plunged his stick into the pocket of his pale taut and seized his hat you'll come and see a sir won't you he said to Penn you'll talk over the governor won't you sir if I can get out of this place and down to Cleveron you will promise to attend me gratis if ever I fall ill at Fair Oaks will you huckster Penn said good naturedly I will do anything I can for you I will come and see Mrs. Huckster immediately and we will conspire together about what is to be done I thought that would send him out sir Bob Blades said dropping into his chair again as soon as the young surgeon had quitted the room and it's all true sir every word of it she wants you back again and sends her husband after you she could jose everyone the little devil she tries it on you on me on poor costigan on the young chaps from Bartholomew's she's got a little court of them already and if there's nobody there she practices on the old German baker in the shop or coaxes the black sweeper at the crossing and she found that fellow was drowning for likes and dislikes bows answered yes she is found of him and having taken the thing into her head she would not rest until she married him they had their bands published at St. Clements and nobody heard it or knew any just cause or pediment and one day she slips out of the Porter's lodge and has the business done and goes off to Graves Inn with Lothario and leaves a note for me to go and explain all things to her ma blessed you the old woman knew it as well as I did though she goes and I'm alone again I miss her sir tripping along that court and coming for her singing lesson and I have no heart to look into the Porter's lodge now which looks very empty without her the little flirting thing and I go and sit and dangle about her lodgings like an old fool she makes them very trim and nice though gets up all hucksters shirts and clothes coaxes little dinner and sings at her business like a little lark what's the use of being angry I lent them three pound to go on with for they haven't got reconciliation and pa comes down and bose had taken his leave and carried his letter from Blanche in the news which he had just received to his usual advisor Laura it was wonderful upon how many points Mr. Arthur who generally followed his own opinion now wanted another person's counsel he could hardly so much as choose a waistcoat without referring to miss Bell if he wanted to buy a horse he must have miss Bell's opinion all which marks a beference tended greatly to the amusement of the shrewd old lady who was very upset and whose plans regarding her protege we have indicated Arthur produced Blanche's letter then to Laura and asked her to interpret it Laura was very much agitated and puzzled by the contents of the note it seems to me she said as if Blanche is acting very artfully and wishes so to place matters that she may take me or leave me is it not so it is I'm afraid a kind of duplicity which does not augur well for your future happiness and is a bad reply to your own candor no I think I think I scarcely like to say what I think said Laura with a deep blush but of course the blushing young lady yielded to her cousin's persuasion and expressed what her thoughts were it looks to me Arthur as if there might be there might be somebody else said Laura with a repetition of the Blanche and if there is broken Arthur and if I am free once again will the best and dearest of all women you are not free dear brother Laura said calmly you belong to another of whom I own it grieves me to thank you but in this letter she does not urge you to tell her the reason why you have broken arrangements which would have been so advantageous to you and avoid speaking on the subjects she somehow seems to write as if she knows her father's secret Penn said yes she must know it and told the story which he had just heard from Huckster of the interview at Shepherd's Inn it was not so that she described the meeting said Laura and going to her desk produced from it that letter of Blanche's which mentioned to Shepherd's Inn another disappointment only the Chevalier strong enough friend of his in the room this was all that Blanche had said but she was bound to keep her father's secret Penn Laura added and yet and yet it is very puzzling the puzzle was this that for three weeks after this eventful discovery Blanche had been only too eager about her dearest Arthur was urging as strongly as so much modesty could urge the completion of the happy arrangements which were to make her Arthur's forever it seemed as if something had interfered tomorrow these happy arrangements as if Arthur poor was not quite so agreeable to Blanche as Arthur rich and a member of parliament as if there was some mystery at last she said Dunbridge Wells is not very far off is it Arthur hadn't you better go and see her they had been in town a week and neither had thought of that simple plan before end of chapter 73 chapter 74 of the history of Pendenis this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org the history of Pendenis by Rea Make Peace Thackery chapter 74 shows how Arthur had better have taken a return ticket the train carried Arthur only too quickly to get to the end of his journey and to acknowledge what sad conclusions his selfishness and waywardness have led him here is the end of hopes and aspirations thought he of romance and ambitions where I yield or where I am obstinate I am alike unfortunate my mother implores me and I refuse an angel say I had taken her forced on me as she was Laura would never have been an angel to me I could not have given her my heart at another's instigation I never could have known her as she is had I been obliged to ask another to interpret her qualities and point out her virtues I yield to my uncle's solicitations and accept on his guaranteed blanche and a seat in parliament and wealth and ambition and a career and see fortune comes and leaves me the wife without the dowry which I had taken in compensation of a heart why was I not more honest or am I not less so it would have cost my poor old uncle no pains to accept blanches fortune when so ever he came he can't even understand he is bitterly indignant heart-stricken almost at the scruples which he actuate me in refusing it I dissatisfied everybody a maimed weak imperfect wretch it seems as if I am unequal to any fortune I neither make myself nor anyone connected with me happy what prospect is there for this poor little frivolous girl who is to take my obscure name and share my fortune I'm not even ambition to excite me or self esteem enough to console myself much more her for my failure if I were to write a book that should go through 20 editions why I should be the very first to sneer at my reputation say I could succeed at the bar and achieve a fortune by bullying witnesses and twisting evidence is that a fame which would satisfy my longings or a calling in which my life would be well spent how I wish I could be that priest opposite who never has lifted his eyes from his brevier except when we were in ragged tunnel when he could for that old gentleman next to him who scowls at him with eyes of hatred over his newspaper the priest shuts his eyes to the world but has his thoughts on the book which is his directory to the world to come his neighbor hates him as a monster tyrant persecutor and fancies burning martyrs and that pale countenance looking on and lighted up by the flame these have no doubts these march on trustfully bearing their load of logic would you like to look at the paper and to pose the stout gentleman he had a flaming article against the order of the black coded gentleman who was traveling with them in the carriage and penn thanked him and took it and pursued his reverie without reading two sentences of the journal and yet would you take either of those men's creeds with its consequences he thought I mean you must bear your own burden fashion your own faith think your own thoughts and pray your own prayer to what mortal ear could I tell all if I had a mind or who could understand all who can tell another's shortcomings lost opportunities weigh the passions which overpower the defects which incapacitate reason what extent of truth and right his neighbor's mind is organized to perceive and to do what invisible and forgotten accident terror of you chance or misfortune may have altered the whole current of light a grain of sand may alter it as the ringing of a pebble may end it who can weigh circumstances passions temptations that go to our good and evil account save one before whose awful wisdom we kneel and at whose mercy we ask absolution here it ends thought pen this day or tomorrow will wind up the account of my youth a weary retrospect alas a sad history with many a page I would faint not look back on but who has not been tired or fallen and who has escaped without scars from that struggle and his head fell on his breast and the young man's heart prostrated itself humbly and sadly before that throne where sits wisdom and love and pity for all and made its confession what matters about fame or poverty he thought if I marry this woman I have chosen may I have strength and will to be true to her and to make her happy if I have children pray God teach me to speak and to do the truth among them and to leave my honest name there are no splendors for my marriage does my life deserve any I begin a new phase of it a better than the last may it be I pray heaven the train stopped at tundra as pen was making these reflections and he handed over the newspaper to his neighbor of whom he took leave while the foreign clergyman in the opposite corner still sat with his eyes on his book and jumped out of the carriage then his carpet bag in hand and briskly determined a fly carried him rapidly to Lady Clevering's house from the station and as he was transported bitter Arthur composed a little speech which he intended to address to Blanche and which was really as virtuous honest and well minded and oration as any man of his turn of mind and under his circumstances could have uttered the purport of it was Blanche I cannot understand from your last letter what your meaning is or whether my fair and frank proposal to you is acceptable or no I think you know the reason which induces me to forgo the worldly advantages which a union with you offered and which I could not accept without as I fancy being dishonored if you doubt of my affection here I am ready to prove it let's both be called in and let us be married out of hand with all my heart I propose to keep my bow and to cherish you through life and to be a true and loving husband to you from the fly Arthur sprang out then to the hall door where he was met by a domestic whom he did not know the man seemed to be surprised at the approach of the gentleman with the carpet bag which he made no attempt to take from Arthur's hands her lady ships not at home sir the man remark I am Mr. Pendenis Arthur said where's Lightfoot Lightfoot is gone answered the man my lady is out and my orders was I hear Miss Hamery's voice in the drawing room said Arthur take the chair to please and passing by the porter he walks straight towards that apartment from which as the door opened a warble of melodious notes issue our little Siren was at her piano singing with all her might and fascinations master Clevering was asleep on the sofa indifferent to the music the near Blanche said a gentleman who was perfectly enraptured with her string which was of a passionate and melancholy nature as the door opened the gentleman started up with hello the music stopped with a little shriek from the singer Frank Clevering woke up from the sofa and Arthur came forward and said what Voker how do you do Voker he looked at the piano and there by Miss Amery's side was just such another purple leather box as he had seen in Harry's hand three days before when the air of logwood was coming out of a jeweler's shop in Waterley Place it was opened and curled round the white cushion within was oh such a magnificent serpentine bracelet with such a blazing ruby head and diamond tail how do you do pendantists of Voker Blanche made many motions of the shoulders and gave signs of unrest and agitation and she put her handkerchief over the bracelet and then she advanced with a hand which trembled very much degree pen I was dearest Laura she said the face of Voker looking out from his profound morning that face so piteous and puzzle was one which the reader's imagination must depict for himself also that of master Frank Clevering who looking at the three interesting individuals with an expression of the utmost knowingness at only time to ejaculate the words here's a jolly go and to disappear sniggering pen too had restrained himself up to that minute but looking still at Voker whose ears and cheeks tingled with blushes out into a fit of laughter so wild and loud that it frightened Blanche much more than any the most serious exhibition and this was the secret was it don't blush and turn away Voker my boy my man you are a pattern of fidelity could I stand between Blanche and such constancy could I stand between Miss Emery and fifteen thousand a year it is not that Mr. Pendennis Blanche said with great dignity it is not money it is not rank it is not gold that moves me but it is constancy it is fidelity it is a whole trustful loving heart offered to me that I treasure yes that I treasure and she made for her hand could shift but reflecting what was underneath it she paused I do not disown I do not disguise my life is above disguise to him on whom it is bestowed my heart be forever bare that I once thought I loved you yes thought I was beloved by you I own how I clung to that faith how I strove I prayed I longed to believe it but your conduct always your own words so cold so heartless so unkind have un-deceived me you trifled with the heart of the poor maiden you flung me back with scorn I have explained all to Mr. Foker that you have said Foker with devotion and conviction in his looks what all said pen with a meaning look at blanche it is I am in fault is it well well blanche be it so I won't appeal against your sentence and bear it in silence I came down here looking to very different things heaven knows and with the heart most truly opposed towards you I hope you may be happy with another as on my word it was my wish to make you so and I hope my honest old friend here will have a wife worthy of his loyalty is constancy and affection indeed they deserve the regard of any woman even miss blanche hey Marie shake hands here don't look at scans at me as anybody told you that I was a false and heartless character I think you're a Foker was beginning in his wrath when blanche interposed Henry not a word I pray you let there be forgiveness you're an angel by job you're an angel said Foker at which blanche looked seraphically up to the chandelier in spite of what has passed for the sake of what has passed I must always regard Arthur as a brother the Sarah continued we have known each other years we have trodden the same fields and plucked the same flowers together Arthur Henry I beseech you to take hands and to be friends forgive you I forgive you Arthur with my heart I do should I not do so for making me so happy there's only one person of us three whom I pity blanche Arthur said gravely and I say to you again that I hope you won't make this fellow dishonest and loyal creature happy happy oh heaven said Harry he could not speak his happiness gushed out at his eyes she don't know she can't know how fond I am of her and and who am I a poor little beggar and she takes me up and says she'll try and I I love me I ain't worthy of so much happiness give us your hand oh boy since she forgives you after your heartless conduct and says she loves you I'll make you welcome I tell you I'll love everybody who loves her by goodness if she tells me to kiss the ground I'll kiss it tell me to kiss the ground I say tell me I love you so you see I love you so she held out one hand as if to bless Harry and then royally permitted him to kiss it she took up the pocket handkerchief and hid her own eyes as the other fair hand was abandoned to poor Harry's tearful embrace I swear that is a villain who deceived such a loving creature as that said pen blanche laid down the handkerchief and put hand number two on Foker's head which was bent down kissing and weeping over hand number one foolish boy she said it shall be loved as it deserves who could help loving such a silly creature and at this moment Frank Clevering broke in upon the sentimental trio I say Pen Dennis he said well Frank the man wants to be paid and go back he's had some beer I'll go back to my pen goodbye Blanche God bless you Foker old friend you know either of you want me here he longed to be off that instant stay I must say one word to you one word in private if you please Blanche said you can trust us together can't you Henry the tone in which the word Henry was spoken and the appeal ravaged Foker with delight trust you said he oh who wouldn't trust you come along Frankie my boy let's have a cigar said Frank as they went into the hall she don't like it said Foker gently law bless you she don't mind Pen Dennis used to smoke regular said the candid you it was but a short word I had to say said Blanche to pen with great calm when they were alone you never love me Mr. Pen Dennis I told you how much said Arthur I never deceived you I suppose you would go back and marry Laura continue Blanche was that what you had to say said Pen you were going to her this very night I am sure of it there is no denying it you never cared for me a view a moi say different I've been spoiled early I cannot live out of the world out of excitement I could have done so but it is too late if I cannot have emotions I must have thought you would offer me neither one or the other you are blase and everything even in ambition you had a career before you and you would not take it you give it up for what for about tease for an absurd scruple why would you not have that seat and be such a puritan why should you refuse what is mine by right by right on time they knew you know all then said pen only within a month but I have suspected ever since Bayman and I'm poor since when it is not too late he is as if he had never been and there is a position in the world before you yet why not sit in parliament exert your talent and give a place in the world to yourself to your wife I take cellouis la il est bon il est rich il est vous les connaissez autant que moi en fin thank you that I would not prefer un homme qui fera parler de moi if the secret appears I am rich millions how does it affect me it is not my fault it will never appear you will tell Harry everything won't you je comprends vous refusez said blanche savagely I will tell Harry at my own time when we are married you will not betray me will you you having a defenseless girls secret will not turn upon her and use it s'il me plaît de la cacher mon secret pourquoi le donner je je l'aime mon pauvre père voyez vous I would rather live with that man than with you the intrigues of the world I must have emotions il m'écrit il écrit très bien voyez vous comme un pirate comme un bon humain comme un homme ma mère qui tend ce l'âge marie ce l'âge société retournant à mon père the pirate would have worried you like the rest said Ben et il me fall des émotions de blanche penne had never seen her or known so much about her in all the years of their intimacy as he saw and knew now though he saw more than existed in reality for this young lady was not able to carry out any emotion to the fall but had a sham enthusiasm a sham hatred a sham love a sham taste each of which flared and shone very vehemently for an instant but subsided and gave place to the next sham emotion end of chapter 74 chapter 75 of the history of Pendenis this is a Libravox recording all Libravox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit Libravox.org the history of Pendenis by William Makepeace Thackeray chapter 75 a chapter of matchmaking upon the platform at Tumbridge penne fumed and fretted until the arrival of the evening train to London a full half hour six hours it seemed to him but even this immense interval was past the train arrived the train sped on the London lights came in view a gentleman who forgot his carpet bag in the train rushed at a cab and said to the man drive as hard as you can go to German street the cab man although a handsome cab man said thank you for the gratuity which was put into his hand and penne ran up the stairs of the hotel to Lady Rockminster's apartments the hotel was alone in the drawing room reading with a pale face by the lamp the pale face looked up when penne opened the door may we follow him the great moments of life barbed up moments like the others your doom is spoken in a word or two a single look from the eyes a mere pressure of the hand may decide it or of the lips though they cannot speak when Lady Rockminster who has had her after dinner nap wakes up and goes into her sitting room we may enter with her ladyship upon my word young people are the first word she says and her attendant makes wondering eyes over her shoulder and well may she say so and well may the attendant cast wondering eyes for the young people are in an attitude and penne in such position as every young lady who reads this has heard tell of or has seen or hoped any great desserts to see in a word directly he entered the room penne went up to Laura of the pale face who had not time even to say what back so soon and seizing her outstretched and trembling hand just as she was rising from her chair fell down on his knees before her and said quickly I have seen her she has engaged herself to Harry Foker and and now Laura the hand gives a pressure the eyes beam a reply the quivering lips answer though speechless pens head sinks down in the girls lap as he sobs out come and bless us dear mother and arms as tender as helens once more enfold him in this juncture it is that lady rock mister comes in and says upon my word young people back leave the room what do you want poking your nose in here penne starts up with looks of triumph still holding Laura's hand she is consoling me for my misfortune man he says what do you mean by kissing her hand I don't know what you will be next doing penne kissed her lady ships I have been to tundra she says and seen the same ring and find on my arrival that that a villain has transplanted in her affections he says with a tragedy air is that all is that what you were whimpering on your knees about says the old lady growing angry you might have kept the news till tomorrow yes another has superseded me goes on pen but why call him villain he is brave he is constant he is young he is wealthy he is beautiful what stuff are you talking sir cried the old lady what has happened miss amry has jolted me and accepted Henry Foker Esquire I found her warbling diddies to him as he lay her feet presence had been accepted vows exchange these 10 days every was old mrs. planters rheumatism which kept dearest Laura out of the house he is the most constant and generous of men he has promised the living of logwood to lady Anne's husband her splendid present on her marriage and he rushed to fling himself at Blanche's feet the instant he found he was free and so as you can't get Blanche you put up with Laura is that it sir asked the old lead he acted nobly Laura said I acted as she bad me said pen never mind how lady rockminster but to the best of my knowledge and power and if you mean that I'm not worthy of Laura I know it and pray heaven to better me and if the loving company of the best impure as creature in the world can do so at least I shall have these to help me hmm hmm replied the old lady to this looking with rather an appeased air at the young people it is all very well but I should have preferred blue beard and now pen to divert the conversation from a theme which was growing painful to some parties present but thought him of his interview with huckster in the morning and a fanny boltons affairs which he had forgotten under the immediate pressure and excitement of his own and he told the ladies how huckster had elevated fanny to the rank of wife and what tears he was in respecting the arrival of his father he described the scene with considerable humor taking care to dwell especially upon that part of it which concerned fanny's co-cuterie and irrepressible desire of captivating mankind is meaning being you see Laura I was not so guilty in that little affair it was the girl who made love to me and I who resisted as I am no longer present the little siren practices her arts and fascinations upon others let that transaction be forgotten in your mind if you please or visit me with a very gentle punishment for my error Laura understood his meaning under the eagerness of his explanations if you did any wrong you repented to your pen she said and you know she added with meaning eyes and blushes that I have no right to reproach you hmm grumble the old lady I should have preferred blue beard the past is broken away the morrow is before us I will do my best to make your morrow happy dear Laura Penn said his heart was humbled by the prospect of his happiness it stood all stricken in the contemplation of her sweet goodness and purity he liked his wife better than she had owned to that passing feeling for warrington and laid bare her generous heart to him and she very likely she was thinking how strange it is that I ever should have cared for another I'm vexed almost to think I care for him so little I'm so little sorry that he's gone away oh in these past two months how I've learned to love Arthur I care about nothing but Arthur my waking and sleeping thoughts are about him he is never absent from me and to think that he is to be mine mine and that I am to marry him and not to be his servant as I expected to be only this morning for I would have gone down on my knees to blanch to beg her to let me live with him and now oh it is too much oh mother mother that you were here indeed she felt as if Helen were there by her actually though invisibly a hail of happiness being from her she moved with a different step and bloomed with a new beauty Arthur saw the change and the old lady Rockminster remarked it with her shrewd eyes what a slight a mere little retch you have been she whispered to Laura while Penn in great spirits was laughing and telling a story about Huxter and how you have kept your secret how are we to help the young couple said Laura of course Miss Laura felt an interest in all young couples as generous lovers always love other lovers we must go and see them said Penn of course we must go and see them so Laura I intend to be very fond of Fanny let us go this instant Lady Rockminster now I have the carriage go now why you stupid creature it is eleven o'clock at night Mr. Missus Huxter have got their night caps on I dare say and it is time for you to go now good night Mr. Penn Dennis Arthur and Laura begged for ten minutes more we will go tomorrow morning then I will come and fetch you with Martha and Earl's Coronet said Penn who no doubt was pleased himself will have a great effect in Lamcourt and Smithfield stay Lady Rockminster will you join us in a little conspiracy how do you mean conspiracy young man will you please to be a little ill tomorrow and when old Mr. Huxter arrives will you let me call him in if he is put into a good humor of attending a baronet in the country what influence won't the counters have on him when he is soft and when he is quite right we will break the secret upon him bring in the young people extort the paternal benediction and finish the comedy a parcel of stuff said the old lady take your hat sir come away miss there my head is turned another way good night young people and who knows but the old lady thought of her own early days as she went away on Laura's arm and her head and humming to herself with the early morning came Laura and Martha according to appointment and the desired sensation was let us hope effected in Lamcourt whence the three proceeded to wait upon Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Huxter at their residence in Charter House Lane the two ladies looked at each other with great interest and not a little emotion on family's part she had not seen her guardian as she was pleased to call Penn the sequence of his bequest since the event had occurred which had united her to Mr. Huxter Samuel told me how kind you had been she said you were always very kind Mr. Penn Dennis and I hope your friend is better who was took ill and shepherds in man my name is Laura said the other with a blush I am that is I was that is I am Martha's sister and we shall always love you for being so good to him when he was ill and when we live in the country I hope we shall see each other and I shall be always happy to hear of your happiness, Pennie we are going to do what you and Huxter have done Pennie where is Huxter what nice snug lodgings you've got what a pretty cat while Pennie is answering these questions and replied to Penn Laura says to herself well now really is this the creature about whom we were all so frightened what could he see in her she's a homely little thing but such manners well she was very kind to him bless her for that Mr. Samuel had gone out to meet his paw Mrs. Huxter said that the old gentleman was to arrive that day at the Somerset Coffee House in the Strand and Pennie confessed that she was in a sad tremor about the meeting if his parent cast him off what are we to do she said I shall never pardon myself for bringing ruin on my husband's Ed you must intercede for us Mr. Arthur if mortal man can't you can bend and influence Mr. Huxter senior Pennie still regarded Penn in the light of a superior being that was evident no doubt Arthur thought of the past as he marked the solemn little tragedy heirs and looks the little ways the little trepidations vanities of the little bride as soon as the interview was over entered messieurs Linton and Blades who came of course to visit Huxter and brought with them a fine fragrance of tobacco they had watched the carriage at the baker's door and remarked the coronet with awe they asked the Fanny who was that uncommonly heavy as well who had just driven off and pronounced the countess was of the right sort and when they heard that it was Mr. Penn Dennis and his sister they remarked that Penn's father was only a saw bones and that he gave himself confounded heirs they had been in Huxter's company on the night of his little altercation with Penn in the back kitchen returning homewards through Fleet Street and as Laura was just stating to Penn's infinite amusement that Fanny was very well but that really there was no beauty in her there might be but she could not see it as they were locked near Temple Bar they saw young Huxter returning to his bride the governor had arrived was at the Somerset coffee house was in tolerable good humor something about the railway but he had been afraid to speak about about that business that Mr. Penn Dennis tried on Penn said he would go and call at that moment upon Mr. Huxter and see what might be done Huxter Jr. would lurk outside whilst that awful interview took place the coronet on the carriage inspired his soul also with wonder and old Mr. Huxter himself beheld it with delight as he looked from the coffee house window on that strand which it was always a treat to him to survey and I can afford to give myself a lark sir said Mr. Huxter shaking hands with Penn of course you know the news we have got our bills sir we shall have our branch line our shares erupt sir and we buy your three fields along the brawl and put a pretty penny into your pocket Mr. Penn Dennis indeed that was good news Penn remember that there was a letter from Mr. Tatham at Chambers these three days but he had not opened the communication being interested with other affairs I hope you don't intend to grow rich and give us practice set Penn we can't lose you at clustering Mr. Huxter though I hear very good accounts of your son my friend Dr. Godina speaks most highly of his talents it is hard that a man of your eminence though should be kept in a country town the metropolis would have been my sphere of action sir said Mr. Huxter surveying the strand but a man takes his business where he finds it and I succeeded to that of my father he was my father's too said Penn I sometimes wish I had followed it you sir have taken your lofty career said the old gentleman you aspire to the senate and to literary honors you wield the poet's pen sir a move in the circles of fashion we keep an eye upon you at clustering we read your name in the lists of the select parties of the nobility why it was only the other day that my wife was remarking how odd it was that at a party at the Earl of Kitterminster your name was not mentioned to what member of the aristocracy may I ask does that equippage belong to my wife saw you descend the Countess Dowager of Rockminster how is her ladyship her ladyship is not very well and when I heard that you were coming to town I strongly urged her to see you Mr. Huxter Penn said old Huxter felt if he had a hundred boats for clustering he would give them all to Penn there is no friend of yours in the carriage our clustering lady too will you come out and speak to her past Penn the old surgeon was delighted to speak to our the full strand he ran out bowing and smiling dodging about the district beheld the meeting between his father and Laura saw the letter put out of her hand and presently after a little colloquy with Penn beheld his father actually jump into the carriage and drive away with Miss Bell there was no room for Arthur who came back laughing to the young surgeon and told him whether his parent was bound during the whole of the journey that artful Laura coaxed and weedled and cajoled him so adroitly that Penn would have granted her anything and Lady Rockminster achieved the victory over him by complimenting him on his skill and professing her anxiety to consult him what were her ladyship's symptoms should he meet her ladyship's usual medical attendant Mr. Jones was called out of town he should be delighted to devote his very best the energies and experience to her ladyship's service he was so charmed with his patient that he wrote home about her to his wife nothing but Lady Rockminster's to Samuel when that youth came to partake of beef steak and oyster sauce and accompany his parent to the play it was a simple grandeur, a polite urbanity a hybrid grace about her ladyship which he had never witnessed in any woman her symptoms did not seem alarming he had prescribed spur amon, aromat with a little spur mint, pip and orange flower which would be all that was necessary Miss Bell seemed to be on the most confidential and affectionate footing with her ladyship she was about to form a matrimonial connection all young people ought to marry such were her ladyship's words and the countess condescended to ask respecting my own family and I mentioned you by name to her ladyship, Sam my boy I shall look in tomorrow when if the remedies which I have prescribed for her ladyship have had the effect which I anticipate I shall probably follow them up by a little spur, liven, comp and so set my noble patient up what is the theatre which is most frequented by the higher classes in town hey Sam, and to what amusement will you take an old country doctor tonight, hey sir on the next day when Mr. Huxter called in German street at 12 o'clock Lady Rockminster had not yet left her room but Miss Bell and Mr. Pendennis were in waiting to receive him Lady Rockminster had had her most comfortable night and was getting on as well as possible how had Mr. Huxter amused himself at the theatre with his son what a capital piece it was and out charmingly, Mrs. O'Leary looked and sang it and what a good fellow young Huxter was like by everybody an honor to his profession he is not as father's manners I grant you or that old world tone which is passing away from us but a more excellent sterling fellow never lived he ought to practice in the country whatever you do sir said Arthur he ought to marry other people who are going to do so and settle the very words that her leadership used yesterday Mr. Pendennis the ought to marry Sam should marry sir the town is full of temptations sir continue pen the old gentleman thought of that hoary Mrs. O'Leary there is no better safeguard for a young man than an early marriage with an honest affectionate creature no better sir no better and love is better than money isn't it indeed it is said Miss Bell I agree with so fair an authority said the old gentleman with a bow and and suppose sir Penn said that I had a piece of news to communicate to you god bless my soul Mr. Pendennis what do you mean as the old gentleman suppose I had to tell you that a young man carried away by an irresistible passion for an admirable and most virtuous young creature whom everybody falls in love with had consulted the dictates of reason in his heart and had married suppose I were to tell you that the man is my friend that are excellent our truly noble friend the Countess Roger of Rockminster is truly interested about him and you may fancy what a young man can do in life when that family is interested for him suppose I were to tell you that you know him that he is here that he is Sam Mary god bless my soul so you don't mean that and to such a nice creature dear Mr. Huckster her ladieship is charmed with her said Penn telling almost the first fib which he has told in the course of this story married the rascal Izzy thought the old gentleman they will do it sir said Penn and went and opened the door Mr. Mizzou Samuel Huckster issued thence and both came and out down before the old gentleman the kneeling little Fanny found favor in his sight there must have been something attractive about her in spite of Laura's opinion we'll never do so anymore sir said Sam get up sir said Mr. Huckster and I got up and Pennie came a little nearer still and look so pretty pitiful that somehow Mr. Huckster found himself kissing the little crying laughing thing and feeling as if he liked it what's your name my dear he said after a minute of the sport Fanny Papa said Mizzou Samuel in of chapter 75 chapter 76 of the history of Penn Dennis this is a Libravox recording all Libravox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit Libravox.org the history of Penn Dennis but will you make peace that could be chapter 76 exion to ominous our characters are all a month older than they were when the last described adventures and conversations occurred and a great number of the personages of our story have chance to reassemble at the little country town where we were first introduced to them Frederick Lightfoot formerly made Dottel in the service of Sir Francis Clevering of Clevering Park Baronette has beg leave to inform the nobility and gentry of Lancashire that he has taken that well known and comfortable hotel the Clevering Arms and Clevering where he hopes for the continued patronage of the gentlemen and families of the county this ancient and well established house Mr. Lightfoot's manifesto states has been repaired and decorated in a style of the greatest comfort gentlemen hunting with the dumpling bear hounds will find excellent stabling and loose boxes for horses at the Clevering Arms a commodious billiard room has been attached to the hotel and the sellers have been furnished with the choices wines and spirits selected without regard to expense by C.L. commercial gentlemen will find the Clevering Arms a most comfortable place of resort and the scale of charges has been regulated for all so as to meet the economical spirit of the present times indeed there is a considerable air of liveliness about the old in the Clevering Arms have been splendidly repainted over the gateway the coffee room windows are bright and fresh and decorated with Christmas Holly the magistrates have met in petty sessions in the card room of the old assembly the farmers ordinary is held as of old and frequented by increased numbers who are pleased with Mrs. Lightfoot's cuisine or Indian curries and Mala Ghatani soup are especially popular major stokes the respected tenant Fair Oaks Cottage Captain Glanders HP and other resident gentry have pronounced in their favor and have partaken of them more than once both in private and at the dinner of the Clevering Institute attendant on the incorporation of the reading room and when the chief inhabitants of that flourishing little town met together and did justice to the hostess's excellent cheer the chair was taken by Sir Francis Clevering Baranette supported by the esteemed director Dr. Portman the vice chair being ably filled by Barker Esquire supported by the Reverend J. Simcoe and the Reverend S. Jals the enterprising head of the Ribbon Factory in Clevering and chief director of the Clevering and Chatterist branch of the Great Western Railway which will be opened in another year and upon the end of this year he was positively engaged an interesting event which is likely to take place in the life of our talented townsman Arthur Pendennis Esquire has we understand caused him to relinquish the intentions which he had of offering himself as a candidate for our borough and rumor whispers says the Chatterist champion Clevering agricultureist and Baymouth fisherman that independent county paper so distinguished for its unswerving principles eligible a medium for advertisements rumor states that the CCCA and BF that should serve Francis Clevering's failing health oblige him to relinquish his seat in Parliament he will vacate it in favor of a young gentleman of colossal fortune and related to the highest aristocracy of the Empire who is about to contract a matrimonial alliance with an accomplished and lovely lady connected by the nearest ties with the respective family Lady Clevering and Miss Emery have arrived at the park for the Christmas holidays and we understand that a large number of the aristocracy are expected and that festivities of a peculiarly interesting nature will take place there at the commencement of the new year the ingenious reader will be enabled by the help of the above announcement to understand what has taken place during the little break which has occurred in our narrative although Lady Rockminster grumbled a little at Laura's preference for Pendennis over Bluebeard those who are aware of the latter's secret will understand that the young girl could make no other choice and the kind old lady who had constituted herself Miss Bell's guardian was not ill pleased that she was to fulfill the great purpose in life of young ladies and Mary she informed her maid of the interesting event that very night and of course Mrs. Beck who was perfectly aware of every single circumstance and kept by Martha a fair oaks in the fullest knowledge of what was passing was pleasantly surprised and delighted Mr. Pendennis's income is so much the railroad will give him so much more he states Miss Bell has so much and may probably have a little more one day for persons in their degree they will be able to manage very well and I shall speak to my nephew been sent who I suspect was once rather attached to her but of course that was out of the question oh of course my lady I should think so indeed not that you know anything whatever about it I don't have any business to think at all on this subject I shall speak to George Vincent who is now chief secretary of the tape and ceiling wax office and that Mr. Pendennis made something and back in the morning you will carry down my compliments to major Pendennis and say that I shall pay my visit at one o'clock yes mother the old lady the major must be reconciled and he must leave his fortune to Laura's children accordingly at one o'clock the young gentleman was thinking of his uncle for the first time that day it must be home and meeting his new servant in the hall of the hotel asked after the major's help from Mr. Frosh and then went into the coffee room of the hotel where he wrote a half-dozen lines to his uncle and the young gentleman was thinking of his uncle for the first time that day it must be home and meeting his new servant in the hall of the hotel where he wrote a half-dozen lines to acquaint his guardian with what had occurred dear uncle he said if there has been any question between us it is over now I went to Tundridge Wells yesterday and found that somebody else had carried off the prize about which we were hesitating Miss A without any compunction for me has bestowed herself upon Harry Foker with his 15,000 a year I came in suddenly upon their loves and found and left him in possession and you'll be glad to hear Tatham writes me that he has sold three of my fields at Barokes to the railroad company had a great figure I will tell you this and more when we meet and I'm always your affectionate AP I think I'm aware of what you were about to tell me the major said with the most courtly smile about depends ambassadors it was a very great kindness of your ladyship to think of bringing me the news how well you look how very good you are how very kind you have always been to that young man it was for the sake of his uncle said Lady Rockminster most politely he is informing me of the state of affairs and written me a nice note yes a nice note continued the old gentleman now I find he has had an increase to his fortune yes and all things considered I don't much regret that his affair with Miss Amory is manque though I wish for it once in fact all things considered I'm very glad of it we must console him major Pendenis continued the lady we must get him a wife the truth then came across the major's mind and he saw for what purpose Lady Rockminster had chosen to assume the office of ambassadors it is not necessary to enter into the conversation which ensued or to tell it any length how her ladyship concluded a negotiation which in truth was tolerably easy there could be no reason why Pan should not marry according to his own and his mother's wish and as for Lady Rockminster she supported the marriage by intimations which had very great weight with the major but of which we shall say nothing as her ladyship now of course much advanced in years is still alive and the family might be angry and then find the old gentleman was quite overcome by the determined graciousness of the lady and her fondness for Laura nothing indeed could be more bland and kind than Lady Rockminster's whole demeanor except for one moment when the major talked about his boy throwing himself away at which her ladyship broke out into a little speech in which she made the major understand what poor Pan and his friends acknowledged very humbly that Laura was a thousand times too good for him Laura was fit to be the wife of a king Laura was a paragon of virtue and excellence and it must be said that when major Pandanus found that a lady of the rank of the Countess of Rockminster seriously admired Miss Bell he instantly began to admire her himself so that when Herr Frausch was requested to walk upstairs to Lady Rockminster's apartments and inform Miss Bell and Mr. Arthur Pandanus that the major would receive them and Laura appeared blushing and happy as she hung on pens on the major gave a shaky hand to one and the other with unaffected emotion and cordiality and then went through another salutation to Laura which caused her to blush still more happy blushes bright eyes beaming with the light of love the storyteller turns from this group to his young audience and hopes that one day their eyes may all shine so then having retreated in the most friendly manner and the lovely Blanche having bestowed her young friends upon a blushing bridegroom with 15,000 a year there was such an outbreak of happiness in Lady Clevering's heart and family as the Good Begum had not known for many a year and she and Blanche were on the most delightful terms of cordiality and affection the art and poker pressed onwards the happy day and was as anxious as might be expected to abridge the period of mourning which had put him in possession of so many charms and amiable qualities of which he had been only as it not the actual owner until then the gentle Blanche everything that her affianced lord could desire was not averse to gratify the wishes of her fond Henry Lady Clevering came up from Tundridge, milleners and jewelers were set to work and engaged to prepare the delightful paraphernalia of Hyman Lady Clevering was in such a good humor that Sir Francis even benefitted by it and such a reconciliation was effective between this pair that Sir Francis came to London with the head of his own table once more and appeared tolerably flushed of money at his billy rooms and gambling houses again one day when major Pand innocent Arthur went to dine and growths in her place they found an old acquaintance established in the quality of major Domo and the gentleman in black who with perfect politeness and gravity offered them their choice of sweet or dry champagne was no other than Mr. James Morgan the Chevalier Strong was one of the party he was in high spirits and condition with accounts of his amusements abroad it was my lady who invited me so strong to Arthur under his voice that fellow Morgan looked as black as thunder when I came in is about no good here I will go away first and wait for you and major Pendenis at Hyde Park Gate Mr. Morgan helped major Pendenis to his great coat when he was quitting the house and muttered something about having accepted a temporary engagement with the Clevering family I've got a paper of yours Mr. Morgan said the old gentleman which you can show if you please to Sir Francis Sir and perfectly welcome said Mr. Morgan with downcast eyes I'm very much obliged to you major Pendenis and if I can pay you for all your kindness I will Arthur overheard this sentence and saw the look of hatred which accompanied it suddenly cried out that he had forgotten his handkerchief and ran upstairs to the drawing room again Foker was still there sterile lingering about his siren Pan gave the siren a look full of meaning and we suppose that meaning looks for when after finding the voracious handkerchief of which he came in quest he once more went out the siren with a laughing voice said oh Arthur Mr. Pendenis I want you to tell the lore of something and she came out to the door what is it she asked shutting the door have you told Harry do you know that Bill and Morgan knows all I know what she said have you told Harry no no she said you won't betray me Morgan will sip and no he won't Sir Blanche I promised him Namport wait until after our marriage oh until after our marriage oh how wretched I am said the girl who had been all smiles and grace and gaiety during the evening Arthur said I beg and implore you to tell Harry tell him now it is no fault of yours he will pardon you anything tell him tonight and give her this with my love please and I beg your pardon for calling you back and if she will be at Madame Quinolence at half past three and if Lady Rockman's to conspire so like to drive with her in the park and she went in singing and kissing her little hand as Morgan the velvet footy came up the carpeted stair Ben heard Blanche's piano breaking out into brilliant music as he went down to join his uncle and they walked away together Arthur briefly told him what he had done what was to be done he asked what is to be done begat said the old gentleman what is to be done but to leave it alone begat let us be thankful said the old fellow with a shutter that we are out of the house leave it to those it concerns I hope to heaven she'll tell him so then begat she'll take her own course said the old man this amour is a devilish wide awake girl sir and must play her own cards and I'm do so glad you are out of it do so glad began who's this smoking oh it's Mr. Strong again he wants to put in his ore I suppose I tell you don't meddle in the business Arthur strong began once or twice as if to converse upon the subject but the major would not hear a word he said when Arthur came out of the hotel Strong's cloak and cigar were visible a few doors off the jolly Chevalier left as they met I'm an old soldier to he said I wanted to talk to you pendentist I've heard of all that has happened and I'm do so glad you are out of it so glad you are out of it do so glad you are out of it do so glad you are out of it do so glad you are out of it do so glad you are out of it do so glad you are out of it do so glad that I've heard of all that has happened and all the chops and changes that have taken place during my absence I congratulate you on your marriage and I congratulate you on your escape to you understand me it was not my business to speak but I noticed that a certain party is as they aren't a little well well never mind what you acted like a man and a Trump and our well out of it I have no reason to complain so then I went back to beg and and treat poor players to tell focal there is but one. Unlucky ye that can stick to it," said the Chevalier. That rascal, Morgan, means mischief. He has been lurking about our chambers for the last two months.  He has been trying to discover where he was. He has been pumping Mr. Bolton and making old Kostian drunk several times. He bribed the importer to tell him when he came back, and he has gotten to clavoring service on the strength of his information. He will get very good pay for it. Mark my words, the villain. Where is Amory, Aspen? Abalonia, I believe. I left him there and warned him not to come back. I have broken with him after a desperate quarrel, such as one might have expected with such a madman. And I am glad to think that he is in my debt now, and that I have been the means of keeping him out of more harms than one. He has lost all his winnings, I suppose, said Pen. No, he is rather better than when he went away or was a fortnight ago. He had extraordinary luck at bottom, broke the bank several nights and was the fable of the place. He lied himself there with a fellow by the name of Blonde, who gathered about him, a society of all sorts of sharpers, male and female, Russians, Germans, French, English. Amory got so insolent that I was obliged to thrash, and one day within an inch of his life, I couldn't help myself. The fellow has plenty of pluck, and I had nothing for it but to hit out.  You think if I had shot him, I should have done nobody any harm? No, sir, I waited for his challenge, but it never came. And the next time I met him, he begged my pardon and said strong, I beg your pardon. You wop me, and you serve me right. I shook hands, but I couldn't live with him after that. I paid him what I owed him the night before, said strong with a blush. I pond everything to pay him. And then I went with my last 10 Florence and had a shy at the roulette. If I had lost, I should have let him shoot me in the morning.  By Joseph, sir, isn't it a shame that a man like me, who may have had a few bills out, but who never deserted a friend or did an unfair action, shouldn't be able to turn his hand to anything to get bread? I made a good night, sir, at roulette, and I'm done with that. I'm going into the wine business. My wife's relations with it, it is. I intend to bring over Spanish wine and hams. There's a fortune to be made by. Sir, a fortune. Here's my card. If you want any sherry or hams recollect, not strong as your man. And this value pulled out a handsome card stating that strong and company shepherds in were so agents of the celebrated diamond man's vanilla of the Duke of Carbanzo's, Grandi of Spain of the first class and of the famous de Bozo ham sped on acorns only in the country of Don Quixote. Come and taste them, sir.  You see, I've an eye to business and by jove this time I'll succeed. Pen laughed as he took the card. I don't know whether I shall be allowed to go to bachelor's parties. He said, you know, I'm going to, but you must have sherry, sir. You must have sherry. I will have it from you depend on it, said the other. And I think you are very well out of your other partnership. That worthy ultimate and his daughter correspond out here. Pen added after a pause. Yes, she wrote him the longest rigamorral letters that I used to read the slide. Little devil and he answered undercover to Mrs. Bonner. He was for carrying her off the first day or two and nothing would content him but having back his child. But she didn't want to come as you may fancy. And he was not very eager about it. Here the Chevalier burst out in a laugh. Why, sir, do you know what was the cause of our quarrel and boxing match? There was a certain widow at Baden, a madame, la baronne de la Cronche-Casse, who was not much better than himself and whom the scoundrel wanted to marry and would, but that I told her he was married already. I don't think that she was much better than he was. I saw her on the pier at Bologna the day I came to England. And now we have brought up our narrative to the point with the announcement in the chatterous champion that already conducted us. It wanted but very, very few days before that blissful one in poker should call Blanche's own. The clevering folks had all pressed to see the most splendid new carriage in the whole world, which was standing in the coachhouse at the clevering arms and shown in grateful return for drink commonly by Mr. Fokker's head coachman. Madame Fritsby was occupied in making some lovely dresses for the tenants' daughters who were to figure as a sort of rise-maids chorus at the breakfast and marriage ceremony. And immense festivities were to take place at the park upon this delightful occasion. Yes, Mr. Huckster, yes, a happy tenantry, its country's pride, will assemble in the baronial hall where the beards will wag all. The arch shall be slain, and the cup they'll drain, and the bell shall peel quite genteel. And my father-in-law, with the tear of sensibility be doing his eye, shall bless us at his baronial porch. That shall be the order of proceedings, I think, Mr. Huckster, and I hope we shall see you in your lovely bride by her husband's side. And what were you pleased to drink, sir? Mrs. Lightfoot, madam, you will give to my excellent friend and body surgeon, Mr. Huckster, Mr. Samuel Huckster, MRCS, every refreshment that your hostel affords and place the festive amount to my account. And Mr. Lightfoot, sir, what will you take, though you've had enough already, I think, yes, ha? So spoke Harry Fokker in the bar of the clevering arms. He had apartments at that hotel, and had gathered a circle of friends round him there. He treated all to drink, who came. He was hail-fella with every man. He was so happy. He danced round, madam, frisbly. Mrs. Lightfoot's great lie. As she sat penciled in the bar, he consoled Mrs. Lightfoot, who had already begun to have causes of matrimonial disquiet, for the truth must be told that young Lightfoot, having now the full command of the seller, had none over his own unbridled desires, and was tippling in tipsy from morning till night. And a piteous sight it was for his fond wife to behold the big youth reeling about the yard and coffee-room, or drinking with the farmers and tradesmen, his own neat wines and carefully selected stock of spirits. When he could find time, Mr. Morgan, the butler, came from the park and took a glass at the expense of the landlord of the clevering arms. He watched poor Lightfoot's tipsy vagaries with savage sneers. Mrs. Lightfoot felt always doubly uncomfortable when her unhappy spouse was under his comrade's eye. But a few months married, and to think he had got to this, Madame Frisbee could feel for her. Madame Frisbee could tell her stories of men every bit as bad. She had had her own rose, too, and her sad experience of men, so it is that nobody seems happy altogether, and that there is bitters, as Mr. Foker remarked, in the cup of every man's life. And yet there did not seem to be any in his, the honest young fellow. He was brimming over with happiness and good humor. Mr. Morgan was constant in his attentions to Foker, and yet I don't like him somehow, said the candid young man to Mrs. Lightfoot. He always seems as if he was measuring me for my coffin somehow. Pa and Laws afraid of him. Pa and Laws a hem, never mind, but Ma and Laws a trump. Mrs. Lightfoot, indeed my lady was, and Mrs. Lightfoot owned, with a sigh that perhaps it had been better for her had she never left her mistress. No, I do not like the Dr. Fell, the reason why I cannot tell, continued Mr. Foker, and he wants to be taken as my headman. Blanche wants me to take him. Why does Miss Emery like him so? Did Miss Blanche like him so? The notions seemed to disturb Mrs. Lightfoot very much, and there came to this worthy landlady another cause for disturbance. A letter bearing the Bologna postmark was brought to her one morning, and she and her husband were quarreling over as Foker passed down the stairs by the bar on his way to the park. His custom was to breakfast there and bask awhile in the presence of our media. Then as the company of Clevering tired him exceedingly, and he did not care for sporting, he would return for an hour or two to billiards, and the society of the Clevering arms. Then it would be time to ride with Miss Emery, and after dining with her, he left her and returned modestly to his inn. Lightfoot and his wife were quarreling over the letter. What was that letter from abroad? Why was she always having letters from abroad? Who wrote them? He would know. He didn't believe it. Was her brother? It was no business of his. It was a business of his. And with a curse, he seized hold of his wife and dashed at her pocket for the letter. The poor woman gave a scream and said, well, take it, just as her husband seized on the letter. And Mr. Foker entered at the door. She gave another scream at seeing him, and once more tried to seize the paper. Lightfoot opened it, shaking her away, and an enclosure dropped down on the breakfast table. Hands off, man alive. Quite a little Harry's bringing in. Don't lay hands on a woman, sir. The man that lays his hand upon a woman, saving the way of kindness, is a, hello, it's a letter for Miss Emery. What's this, Mrs. Lightfoot? Mrs.  Why did I marry you? Why did I leave my lady for you? Why did I spend 800 pounds in fitting up this house that you might drink and guzzle?  It's a family affair, sir. Will you take anything, sir? I will take this letter to Miss Emery as I am going to the park, said Foker, turning very pale and taking it up from the table, which was arranged for the poor landlady's breakfast, he went away. He's coming, dammy, who's the coming? Who's J.A.? Mrs. Lightfoot cursed me, who's J.A.? cried the husband. Mrs. Lightfoot cried out, be quiet, you tipsy brute dude, and running to her bonnet, and Shaw threw them on, saw Mr. Foker walking down the street, took the by lane, which skirts it, and ran as quickly as she could to the lodge gate, clevering part. Foker saw a running figure before him, but it was lost when he got to the lodge gate, he stopped and asked, who was that, who had just come in? Mrs. Bonnet, was it? He reeled almost in his walk, the trees swam before him. He rested once or twice against the trunks of the naked limes. Lady Clevering was in the breakfast room with her son and her husband, yawning over his paper. Good morning, Harry, said the begum. Here's letters, lots of letters. Lady Rockminster will be here on Tuesday instead of Monday, and Arthur and the major come today, and Laura is to go to Dr. Portmans and come to church from there. And what's the matter, my dear? What makes you so pale, Harry? Where is Blanche? asked Harry in a sickening voice. Not down yet. Blanche is always the last, said the boy, eating muffins. She's a regular doll she is. When you're not here, she lays in bed till lunchtime. Be quiet, Frank, said the mother. Blanche came down presently, looking pale, and with rather an eager look towards Foker, then she advanced and kissed her mother and had a face beaming with her very best smiles on when she greeted Harry. How do you do, sir? She said and put out both her hands. I'm ill, answered Harry. I've brought a letter for you, Blanche. A letter from whom is it, pray? For yon, she said. I don't know. I should like to know, said Foker. How can I tell until I see it, asked Blanche. As Mrs. Bonner not told you, he said with a shaking voice, there's some secret. You give her the letter, Lady Cleverine. Lady Cleverine, wondering, took the letter from poor Foker's shaking hand and looked at the superscription. As she looked at it, she too began to shake in every limb, and with a scared face, she dropped the letter and, running up to Frank, clutched the boy to her and burst out with a sob. Take that away. It's impossible. It's impossible. What is the matter? cried Blanche with rather a ghastly smile. The letter is only from a poor pensioner and relative of ours. It's not true. It's not true. Scream, Lady Cleverine. No, my Frank. Is it Cleverine? Blanche had taken up the letter and was moving with it towards the fire, but Foker ran to her and clutched her arm. I must see that letter. He said, give it me. You shan't burn it. You, you shall not treat Miss Emery. So in my house, cried the Baronette, give back the letter by Joe. Read it and look at her. Blanche cried, pointing to her mother. It was for her. I kept the secret. Read it, cruel man. And Foker opened and read the letter. I have not wrote my darling Betsy this three weeks, but this is to give her a father's blessing and I shall come down pretty soon as quick as my note and intend to see the ceremony. And my son-in-law, I shall put up at Bonners. I've had a pleasant autumn and am staying here at a hotel where there is good company and which is kept in good style. I don't know whether I quite approve of your throwing over Mr. P for Mr. F, and don't think Foker is such a pretty name, and from your account of him, he seems a moth and not a beauty, but he has got the rowdy, which is the thing. So no more, my dear little Betsy, till we meet from your affectionate father, Jay Emery Altamont. Read it, Lady Cleverine. It is too late to keep it from you now, said poor Foker and the distracted woman, having cast her eyes over again broke out into hysterical screams and convulsively grasped her son. They have made an outcast of you, my boy. She said they've dishonored your old mother, but I'm innocent, Frank. Before God, I'm innocent. I didn't know this, Mr. Foker. Indeed, indeed I didn't. I'm sure you didn't, said Foker, growing up and kissing her hand. Generous, generous Harry, cried out blanche in an ecstasy.  That's different, he says. It was for her sake, for her sake, Harry. Again, Ms. Emery is in an attitude. There was something to be done for mine, said Foker. I would have taken you, whatever you were. Everything's talked about in London. I knew that your father had come to grief. You don't think it was, it was for your connection. I married you.  Oh, blanche, blanche, it is a hard thing, a hard thing. And he covered his face with his hands and sobbed behind them. Blanche thought, why didn't I tell him that night when Arthur warned me? Don't refuse her, Harry, cried out Lady Cleverine. Take her. Take everything I have. It's all her, as you know, at my death. This boy's disinherited. Master Frank, we've been looking as scared at the strange scene. Hear burst into a loud cry. Take every shilling.  Oh, they've both been bad, bad men. Perhaps he's here now. Don't let me see him, Cleverine.  Defend me from him. Cleverine started up at this proposal. You ain't serious to mama. You don't mean that, he said.  I didn't know it, so help me, Foker. I had no more idea of it than the dead until the fellow came and found me out the during the escaped convict's scoundrel. The what? Said Foker. Blanche gave a scream. Yes. Screamed out the Baronette in his turn. Yes. During runaway convict, a fellow that forged his father-in-law's name. During the attorney and killed a fellow in Botany Bay hanging and ran into the bush curse him. I wish he died there. And he came to me a good six years ago and robbed me. And I've been ruining myself to keep him the infernal scoundrel. And Pendennis knows it and Strong knows it and that. Baron Morgan knows it and she knows it ever so long. And I never would tell that never. And I kept it from my wife. And you saw him and you didn't kill him.  Said the wife of Emery. Come away, Frank.  I'm dishonored, but I'm your old mother and you'll love me, won't you? Blanche, a plurie, went up to her mother. But Lady Cleverine shrank from her with a sort of terror. Don't touch me. She said, you've no heart. You never had. I see all now. I see why that coward was going to give up his place in Parliament to Arthur. Yes, that coward. And why you threatened that you would make me give you half Frank's fortune and when Arthur offered to marry you without a shilling, because he wouldn't rob my boy, you left him and you took poor Harry. Have nothing to do with her, Harry. You're good. You are. Don't marry that convict's daughter. Come away, Frank, my darling.  We'll hide ourselves. But we're honest. Yes, we are honest. All this while, a strange feeling of exaltation had taken possession of Blanche's mind. That month with poor Harry had been a weary month to her. All this fortune and splendor scarcely suffice to make the idea of himself supportable. She was worried of his simple ways and sick of coaxing and cajoling him.  She cried out with a gesture which was always appropriate, but rather theatrical. I have no heart. Have I? I keep the secret of my mother's shame.  Yes, my rights and my fortune. I don't betray my father. And for this I have no heart. I'll have my rights now and the laws of my country shall give them to me. I appeal to my country's laws. Yes, my country's laws. The persecuted one returns this day. I desire to go to my father and the little lady swept round her hand and thought that she was a heroine. You will, will you, cried out clevering with one of his usual oaths. I'm a magistrate and am I. I'll commit him. Here's a chase coming. Perhaps it's him. Let him come. A chase was indeed coming up the avenue and the two women shrieked each their loudest, expecting at that moment to see ultimate arrive. The door opened and Mr. Morgan announced Major Pendennis and Mr. Pendennis, who entered and found all parties engaged in this fierce quarrel. A large screen fenced the breakfast room from the hall, and it is probable that according to his custom, Mr. Morgan had taken advantage of the screen to make himself acquainted with all that occurred. It had been arranged on the previous day that the young people should ride and at the appointed hour in the afternoon, Mr. Fokker's horses arrived from the clattering arms, but Miss Blanche did not accompany him on this occasion. Pen came out and shook hands with him on the doorsteps and Harry Fokker rode away, followed by his groom in mourning. The whole transactions, which have occupied the most active part of our history, were debated by the party's concern during those two or three hours. Many councils had been given, stories told, and compromises suggested.  There was a dreary dinner at Clavaring Park, which the lately-installed butler did not attend, and the ladies were both absent after dinner Pen said, I will walk down to Clavaring and see if he has come. And he walked through the dark avenue across the bridge and road by his own cartage, the once quite familiar fields of which were flaming with the kilns and forges of the artificers employed on that new railroad works, and so he entered the town and made for the clavaring arms. It was past midnight when he returned to Clavaring Park. He was exceedingly pale and agitated. Is Lady Clavaring up yet? He asked. Yes, she was in her own sitting room. He went up to her and there found the poor lady in a piteous state of tears and agitation. It is I, Arthur, he said, looking in and entering. He took her hand very affectionately and kissed it. You were always the kindest of friends to meet, dear Lady Clavaring. He said, I love you very much. I've got some news for you. Don't call me by that name. She said pressing his hand. You were always a good boy, Arthur, in this kind of view to come now. Very kind. You sometimes look very like your ma, my dear. Dear good Lady Clavaring, Arthur repeated with particular emphasis. Something very strange has happened. Has anything happened to him? Gasp, Lady Clavaring. Oh, it's hard to think. I should be glad of it. Horried. He is well. He has been and has gone. My dear lady, don't alarm yourself. He is gone.  Is it true? What he sometimes said to me, she screamed out that he was married before he married you, Sir Penn. He has confessed it tonight. He will never come back. There came another shriek from Lady Clavaring. Ashley flung her arms round Penn and kissed him and burst into tears on his shoulder. What Penn had to tell through a multiplicity of sobs and interruptions must be compressed briefly. For behold, our prescribed limit has reached and our tale is coming to its end. With the branched coach from the railroad, which had succeeded the old delacuity and perseverance, Emery arrived and were set down at the Clavaring arms. He ordered his dinner at the place under his assumed name of Altamont. And being about jovial turn, he welcomed the landlord, who was nothing loath to a share of his wine. Having extracted from Mr. Lightfoot all the news regarding the family at the park and found from examining his host that Mrs. Lightfoot, as she said, had kept his counsel, he called for more wine of Mr. Lightfoot and at the end of this symposium. Both being greatly excited, went into Mrs. Lightfoot's bar. She was there taking tea with her friend, Madam Fritz B. and Lightfoot by this time in such a happy state as not to be surprised of anything which might occur so that when Altamont shook hands with Mrs. Lightfoot as an old acquaintance, the recognition did not appear to him to be in the least strange, but only a reasonable cause for further drinking. The gentleman partook then of Brandy and Water, which they offered to the ladies, not heeding the terrified looks of one or the other. Whilst they were so engaged at about six o'clock in the evening, Mr. Morgan, Sir Francis Clavaring's new man, came in and was requested to drink. He selected his favorite beverage and the parties engaged in general conversation. After a while, Mr. Lightfoot began to dose. Mr. Morgan had repeatedly given hints to Mrs. Fribsby to quit the premises, but that lady strangely fascinated and terrified it would seem or persuaded by Mrs. Lightfoot not to go kept her place. Her persistence occasioned much annoyance to Mr. Morgan who vented his displeasure in such language as gave pain to Mrs. Lightfoot and caused Mr. Altamont to say that he was a rum customer and not polite to the sex. The altercation between the two gentlemen became very painful to the women, especially to Mrs. Lightfoot who did everything to soothe Mr. Morgan and under pretence of giving a pipe light to the stranger, she handed him a paper on which she had privately written the words, He knows you, go. There may have been something suspicious in a manner of handing or in her guests of reading the paper, for when he got up a short time afterwards and said he would go to bed, Morgan rose to with a laugh and said it was too early to go to bed. The stranger then said he would go to his bedroom. Morgan said he would show him the way. At this the guest said, Come up, I've got a brace of pistols up there to blow out the brains of any trader or skulking spy and glared so fiercely upon Morgan that the latter, seizing hold of Lightfoot by the collar and waking him said, John Emery, I arrest you in the Queen's name. Stand by me Lightfoot, this capture is worth a thousand pounds. He put forward his hand as if to seize his prisoner, but the other, doubling his fist, gave Morgan with his left hand so fierce a blow on the chest that had knocked him back behind Mr. Lightfoot.  The wither piercing scream Mrs. Lightfoot flung herself before her husband, whilst with another and louder shriek Madame Fridspie ran to the stranger calling out Armstrong, Johnny Armstrong, seized hold of his naked arm on which a blue tattooing of a heart and MF were visible. The ejaculation of Madame Fridspie seemed to astound and sober the stranger. He looked down upon her and cried out, it's Polly by Joan. Mrs. Fridspie continued to exclaim, this is not Emery. This is Johnny Armstrong, my wicked, wicked husband, married to me in St. Martin's Church, made on board an India man, and he left me two months after the wicked wretch. This is John Armstrong. Here's the mark on his arm which he made for me. The stranger said, I am John Armstrong, sure enough Polly. I'm John Armstrong, Emery, Altamont, and let them all come on and try what they can do against a British sailor. Hooray, who's for it? Morgan still called out, arrest him.  What, stop the marriage and ruin my lady, and take away the clevering arms from us? Did he say he'd take away the clevering arms from us? Asked Mr. Lightfoot, turning round. Hang him, I'll throttle him. Keep him, darling, till the coach passes through the up-train. It'll be here now directly. Darned him, I'll choke him if he stirs, said Lightfoot, and so they kept Morgan until the coach gained, and Mr. Amy, or Armstrong, went away back to London. Morgan had followed him, but of this event Arthur Pendennis did not inform Lady Clevering, and left her invoking blessings upon him at her son's door, going to kiss him as he was asleep. It had been a busy day. We have to chronicle the events of but one day more, and that was the day when Mr. Arthur retired from the new hat, a new blue frock coat and blue handkerchief, and a new fancy waistcoat, new boots and new shirt studs presented by the right Honorable the Countess Dowager of Rockminster made his appearance at a solitary breakfast table in Clevering Park where he could scarce eat a single morsel of food. Two letters were laid by his worship's plate, and he chose to open the first, which was in a round clerk-like hand in preference to the second more familiar superscription. Note one ran as follows. Garbanzo's wine company shepherds in Monday. My dear Pendennis, in congratulating you heartily upon the event, which is to make you happy for life, I send my very kindest rememberances to Mrs. Pendennis, whom I hope to know even longer than I have already known her. And when I call her attention to the fact that one of the most necessary articles to her husband's comfort is pure sherry, I know I shall have her for a customer for your worship's sake. But I have to speak to you of an other than my own concerns. Yesterday afternoon, a certain JA arrived at my chambers from Clevering, which he had left under the circumstances of which you are doubtless now aware. In spite of our difference, I could not but give him food and shelter, and he partook freely both of the Garbanzo's Amantillado and the Toboso ham, and he told me what had happened to him and many other surprising adventures. The rascal married at sixteen and has repeatedly since performed that ceremony in Sydney and New Zealand in South America, and Newcastle says first before he knew our poor friend the milliner. He is a perfect Don Juan. And it seemed as if the Commandatore had at last overtaken him, for as we were at our meal, there came three heavy knocks at my outer door, which made our friend start. I sustained a siege or two here and went to my usual place to recon order. Thank my stars, I have not a bill out in the world, and besides those gentry do not come in that way. I found that it was your uncle's late valet, Morgan, and a policeman, I think a sham policeman, and they said they had a warrant to take the person of John Armstrong, alias Amory, alias Altamont. A runaway convict and threatened to break in the oak. Now, sir, in my own days of captivity, I had discovered a little passage along the gutter into bows and costigan's window, and I sent Jack alias along this covered way, not without terror of his life, for it groaned very cranky, and then after a parlay led in Monsieur's Morgan and friend. The rascal had been instructed about that covered way, for he made for the room instantly, telling the policeman to go downstairs and keep the gate, and he charged up my little staircase as if he had known the premises. As he was going out of the window, we heard a voice that you know from bows' garret saying, who are ye, and what are the devil are ye at? You'd better glee the gutter, the dad there's a man killed himself already. And as Morgan crossing over and looking into the darkness was trying to see whether this awful news was true, he took a broomstick and with a vigorous dash broke down the pipe of communication and told me this morning with great glee that he was reminded of that A. Z. Strathlow's gem by remembering his doorling Emily when she parted the part of Cora in the plea and by the bridge of Pozzarro, but that, I wish that Scoundrel Morgan had been on the bridge when the general tried his Strathlow's gem. If I hear more of Jack alias, I will tell you he's got plenty of money still, and I wanted him to send some to our poor friend the milliner, but the Scoundrel laughed and said he had no more than he wanted, but offered to give anybody a lock of his hair. Farewell, be happy and believe me always truly yours, ye strong. And now for the other letter said Pen, dear old fellow, and he kissed the seal before he broke it. Warrington Tuesday. I must not let the day pass over without saying, O God bless you to both of you. May heaven make you happy, dear Arthur and dear Laura. I thank Pen that you have the best wife in the world, and pray that as such you will cherish her and tender. The chambers will be lonely without you, dear Pen, but if I am tired, I shall have a new home to go to in the house of my brother and sister. I am practicing in the nursery here in order to prepare for the part of Uncle George. Farewell, make your wedding tour and come back to your affectionate GW. Pen Denison and his wife read this letter together after Dr. Portman's breakfast was over, and the guests were gone, and when the carriage was waiting amidst the crowd at the doctor's outer gate, but the wicked led into the church out of St. Mary's where the bells were peeling with all their might, and it was here over Helen's green grass that Arthur showed his wife George's letter, for which of those two, for grief, was it, or for happiness, that Laura's tears abundantly fell on the paper, and once more in the presence of the sacred dust she kissed and blessed her Arthur. There was only one marriage on that day at Clevering Church, for in spite of Blanche's sacrifices for a dearest mother, honest Harry Foker could not pardon the woman who had deceived her husband, and justly argued that she would deceive him again. He went to the pyramids in Syria, and there left his malady behind him and returned with a fine beard and a supply of tabooshes and nargillies, with which he regales all his friends. He lives splendidly, and through Pen's mediation gets his wine from the celebrated vintages of the Duke of Garbanzos. As for poor cause, his fate has been mentioned in an early part of this story. No very glorious end could be expected to such a career. Morgan is one of the most respectable men in the parish of St. James's, and in the present political movement has pronounced himself like a man in a Britain, and bows on the demise of Mr. Piper, who played the organ at Clevering. Little Mrs. Sam Hunter, who has the entire command of Dr. Portman, brought bows down from London to contest the organ loss, and her candidate carried the chair. When Sir Francis Clevering quitted this worthless life, the same little indefatigable canvasser took the borough by storm, and it is now represented by Arthur Pendinus Esquire, Blanche Amory. It is well known, married at Paris, and the saloons of Madame de la conteste de Montmorency de Valentinois were amongst the most. Suivi of that capital. The duel between the Count and the young and fiery representative of the mountain, Alcy de Marobo, arose solely from the latter questioning at the club the titles borne by the former nobleman. Madame de Montmorency de Valentinois traveled after the adventure and bongay bought her poems and published them with the Countess's coronet emblazoned on the Countess's work. Major Pendinus became very serious in his last days and was never so happy as when Laura was reading to him with her sweet voice or listening to his stories for this sweet lady is the friend of the young and the old and her life was always passed in making other lives happy. And what sort of a husband would this Pendinus be? Many a reader asked, doubting the happiness of such a marriage and the fortune of Laura. The queerest, if they meter, are referred to that lady herself who seeing his faults and wayward moods, seeing and owning that there are men better than he loves him always with the most constant affection. His children or their mother have never heard a harsh word from him and when his spits of mootiness and solitude are over, welcome him back with a never-failing regard and confidence. His friend is his friend still entirely heart whole. That melody is never fatal to a sound organ and George goes through his part of coppa-pa perfectly and lives alone if Mr. Pend's works have procured him more reputation than has been acquired by his neighbor friend whom no one knows, George lives contented without the fame. If the best men do not draw the great prizes in life, we know it has been so settled by the ordainer of the lottery. We own and see daily how the false and worthless live and prosper while the good are called away and the dear and young perish untimely. We perceive in every man's life the maimed happiness, the frequent falling, the bootless endeavor, the struggle of right and wrong, in which the strong often succumb in the swift fail. We see flowers of good blooming in foul places as in the most lofty and splendid fortunes, flaws of vice and menisense, stains of evil, and knowing how mean the best of us is, let us give a hand of charity to Arthur Pendennis with all his faults and shortcomings, who does not claim to be a hero but only a man and a brother. The end, end of chapter 76, end of the history of Pendennis by Will You Make Peace, Zachary