 Chapter 64 of the History of Pendentists. The History of Pendentists by William Makepeace Thackeray. Chapter 64. Phyllis and Corridon. On a picturesque common in the neighborhood of Tunbridge Wells, Lady Clevering had found a pretty villa with her. She retired after her conjugal disputes at the end of that unlucky London season. Miss Emery, of course, accompanied her mother and Master Clevering came home for the holidays with Unblanche's chief occupation was to fight and quarrel. But this was only a home pastime and the young schoolboy was not fond of home sports. He found cricket and horses and plenty of friends at Tunbridge. The Good Natured Begum's house was filled with a constant society of young gentlemen of 13 who ate and drank much too copiously of tarts and champagne who rode races on the lawn and frightened the fond mother who smoked and made themselves sick in the dining room unbearable to Miss Blanche. She did not like the society of young gentlemen of 13. As for that very young creature, any change as long as it was changed was pleasant to her and for a week or two she would have liked poverty and a cottage and bread and cheese and for a night perhaps a dungeon and bread and water. And so the move to Tunbridge was by no means unwelcome to her. She wandered in the woods and sketched trees and farmhouses. She read French novels habitually. She drove into Tunbridge Wells pretty often and to any play or ball or conjurer or musician who might happen to appear in the place. She slept a great deal. She quarreled with Mama and Frank during the morning. She found the little village school and attended it and first fondled the girls and thwarted the mistress, then scolded the girls and laughed at the teacher. She was constant at church of course. It was a pretty little church of immense antiquity, a little Anglo-Norman Bijou built the day before yesterday and decorated with all sorts of painted windows, carved saints' heads, gilt scripture texts and open pews. Blanche began forthwith to work a most correct high church altar cover for the church. She passed for a saint with a clergyman for a while, whom she quite took in and whom she coaxed and weedled and fondled so artfully that poor Mrs. Smirk, who at first was drawn with her, then bore with her, then would hardly speak to her, was almost mad with jealousy. Mrs. Smirk was the wife of our old friend Smirk, Penn's tutor and poor Helen's suitor. He had consoled himself for her refusal with the young lady from Clapham, whom his mama provided. When the latter died, our friend's views became every day more and more pronounced. He cut off his coat collar and let his hair grow over his back. He rigorously gave up the curl, which he used to sport on his forehead and the tie of his neck cloth, of which he was rather proud. He went without any tie at all. He went without dinner on Fridays. He read the Roman hours and intimated that he was ready to receive confessions in the bestry. The most harmless creature in the world, he was denounced as a black and most dangerous Jesuit and Papus by muffin of the dissenting chapel and Mr. Simeon Knight at the Old Church. Mr. Smirk had built his chapel of ease with the money left in by his mother at Clapham. Lord, Lord, what would she have said to hear a table called an altar to seek candlesticks on it, to get letters signed on the Feast of Saints, so and so, or the Vigil of Saint, what do you call them? All these things did the boy of Clapham practice, his faithful wife following him. But when Blanche had a conference of near two hours in the bestry with Mr. Smirk, Belinda paced up and down on the grass where there were only two little gravestones as yet. She wished that she had a third there. Only only he would offer very likely to that creature who had infatuated him in a fortnight. No, she would retire. She would go into a convent and profess and leave him. Such bad thoughts had Smirk's wife and his neighbors regarding him, these thinking him in direct correspondence with the Bishop of Rome, that the wailing heirs to her even more odious and fatal, and yet our friend meant no earthly harm. The post office never brought him any letters from the Pope. He thought Blanche, to be sure at first the most pious, gifted, right-thinking, fascinating person he'd ever met, and in a manner of singing the chance, delighted him. But after a while he began to grow rather tired of Miss Emery. Her ways and graces grew stale somehow. Then he was doubtful about Miss Emery. Then she made a disturbance in his school, lost her temper and wrapped the children's fingers. Blanche inspired this admiration and satiety. Somehow in many men she tried to please them and flung out all her graces at once, came down to them with all her jewels on, all her smiles and cajoleries and coaxings and ogles. Then she grew tired of them and of trying to please them and never having cared about them, dropped them. And the men grew tired of her and dropped her too. It was a happy night for Belinda when Blanche went away and her husband, with rather a blush and a sigh, said he had been deceived in her. He had thought her endowed with many precious gifts. He feared they were mere tinsel. He thought she had been a right-thinking person. He feared she had merely made religion an amusement. She certainly had quite lost her temper to the school, missed her some beat Polly Rucker's knuckles cruelly. Belinda flew to his arms. There was no question about the grave or the veil anymore. He tenderly embraced her on the forehead. There is none like thee, my Belinda, he said, throwing his fine eyes up to the ceiling, precious among women. As for Blanche, from the instant she lost sight of him and Belinda, she never thought or cared about either anymore. But when Arthur went down to pass a few days at Tundbridge Wells with the Begum, this stage of indifference had not arrived on Miss Blanche's part or on that of the simple clergyman. Smerck believed her to be an angel in wonder about woman, such a perfection he had never seen and sat listening to her music in the summer evenings, open mouth, wrapped in wonder, tea-less and bread-and-butterless. Fascinating as he had heard the music of the opera to be, he had never but once attended an exhibition of that nature which he mentioned with a blush and a sigh. It was on that day when he had accompanied Helen and her son to the play at Chatteris. He could not conceive anything more delicious, more celestial. He had almost said than Miss Amory's music, she was the most gifted being, she had a precious soul, she had the most remarkable talents, to all outward seeming, the most heavenly disposition, etc., etc. It was in this way that being then at the height of his own fever and enrichment for Blanche, Smerck discourse to Arthur about her. The meeting between the two old acquaintances had been very cordial. Arthur loved anybody who loved his mother. Smerck could speak on that theme with genuine feeling and emotion. They had a hundred things to tell each other of what had occurred in their lives. Arthur would perceive, Smerck said, that his views on church matters had developed themselves since their acquaintance. Mrs. Smerck, a most exemplary person, seconded them with all her endeavors. He had built this little church on his mother's demise, who had left him provided with a sufficiency of worldly means. Though in the cloister himself he had heard of Arthur's reputation, he spoke in the kindest and most saddened tone. He held his eyelids down and bowed his fair head on one side. Arthur was immensely amused with him, with his heirs, with his follies and simplicity, with his blank stock and long hair, with his real goodness, kindness, friendliness of feeling, and his praises of Blanche, pleased and surprised our friend not a little, and made him regard her with eyes of particular favour. The truth is, Blanche was very glad to see Arthur as one is glad to see an agreeable man in the country who brings down the last news and stories from the great city, who can talk better than most country folks, at least can talk about darling London jargon, so dear and indispensable to London people, so little understood by persons out of the world. The first day Penn came down, he kept Blanche laughing for hours after dinner. She sang her songs with redoubled spirit. She did not scold her mother. She fondled and kissed her to the honest Begum's surprise. When he came to be bedtime, she said, de-ja, with the prettiest air of regret possible, and was really quite sorry to go to bed and squeezed Arthur's hand quite fondly. He on his side gave her pretty palm a very cordial pressure. Our young gentleman was of that term that eyes very moderately bright dazzled him. She is very much improved, thought Penn, looking out into the night very much. I suppose the Begum won't mind my smoking with the window open. She's a jolly good old woman, and Blanche is immensely improved. I liked her manner with her mother tonight. I liked her laughing way with that stupid young cub of a boy, whom they oughtn't to allow to get tipsy. She sang those little verses very prettily. They were devilish pretty verses too, though I say it who shouldn't say it. Any hum to tune, which Blanche had put to some verses of his own, or what a fine night, how jolly a cigar is at night. How pretty that little Saxon church looks in the moonlight. I wonder what old Warrington's doing. Yes, she's a devilish nice little thing, as my uncle says. Oh, heavenly, here broke out a voice from what Clematis covered casement near a girl's voice. It was the voice of the author of May Lawn. Penn burst into a laugh, don't tell about my smoking, he said, leaning out of his own window. Oh, go on, I adore it, the lady of May Lawn. Heavenly night, heavenly, heavenly moon, but I must shut my window and not talk to you on account of lay myrrh. How droll they are, lay myrrh. I do, and Penn began to sing the good night to Don Basilio. The next day they were walking in the fields together, laughing and chattering. The gayest pair of friends, they talked about the days of their youth, and Blanche was prettily sentimental. They talked about Laura, dearest Laura. Blanche had loved her as a sister. Was she happy with that odd Lady Rockmaster? Wouldn't she come and stay with them at Tumbridge? Oh, what walks they would take together. What songs they would sing, the old, old songs. Laura's voice was splendid. Did Arthur, she must call him Arthur. Remember the songs they sang in the happy old days? Now he was grown such a great man and had such a success, et cetera, et cetera. And the day after which was enlivened with a happy ramble through the woods to Penn's hearst, and a sight of that pleasant park all came that conversation with the cure which we have narrated and which made our young friend think more and more. Is she all this perfection? He asked himself, has she become serious and religious? Does she attend schools and visit the poor? Is she kind to her mother and brother? Yes, I'm sure that. I've seen her in walking with his old tutor over his little parish and going to visit his school. It was with inexpressible delight that Penn found Blanche seated, constructing the children, and fancied to himself how patient she must be, how good-natured, how ingenuous, how really simple in her taste and unspoiled by the world. And do you really like the country? He asked her as they walked together, I should like never to see that odious city again. Oh, Arthur. That is Mr. Well Arthur then. One's good thoughts grow up in these sweet woods and calm solitudes like those flowers which won't bloom in London, you know. The gardener comes and changes our balconies once a week. I don't think I should bear to look London in the face again. It's odious, smoky, brazen face, but high hoe. Why that side Blanche? Never mind why? Yes, I do mind why. Tell me, tell me everything. I wish you hadn't come down. And a second edition of May's Super came out. You don't want me Blanche? I don't want you to go away. I don't think this house will be very happy without you. And that's why I wish that you never had come. May's Super were here later side and May's alarm had begun. Ah, what answer is given to those in the eyes of a young woman? What is the method employed for drawing them? What took place? Oh, ring doves and roses, oh, doos and wildflowers. Oh, waving greenwoods and balmy airs of summer here were two battered London rakes taking themselves in for a moment and fancying that they were in love with each other like Phyllis and Coradon. When one thinks of country houses and country walks, one wonders that any man has left unmarried. End of chapter 64. Chapter 65 of the history of Pendennis. 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 Pendennis by William Makepeace Thackeray. Chapter 65. Temptation. Easy and frank spoken, as Pendennis commonly was with Warrington, how came it that Arthur did not inform the friend and depository of all his secrets of the little circumstances which had taken place at the villa near Tundridge Wells. He talked about the discovery of his old tutor Smirk, freely enough, and of his wife and of his Anglo-Norman church and of his departure from Claffa to Rome. But when asked about Blanche, his answers were evasive or general. He said she was a good natured clever little thing that rightly guided she, Make, no such bad wife after all, but that he had for the moment no intention of marriage that his days of romance were over that he was contented with his present lot and so forth. In the meantime there came occasionally to Lamcourt Temple, pretty little satin envelope superscribed in the neatest handwriting and sealed with one of those admirable ciphers which, if Warrington had been curious enough to watch his friend's letters or indeed if the cipher had been decipherable, would have shown George that Mr. Arthur was in correspondence with the young lady whose initials were B.A. To these pretty little compositions, Mr. Penn replied in his best and gallantist manner with jokes with news of the town, with points of wit, nay with pretty little verses very likely in reply to the versicles of the Muse of Melarm. Blanche, we know, rhymes with branch and stanch and launch. And no doubt a gentleman of Penn's ingenuity would not forego these advantages of position and would bring the pretty little changes upon these pleasing notes. Indeed, we believe that those love verses of Mr. Penn's which had such a pleasing success in the Rose Leaves, that charming annual edited by Lady Violet Labar, and illustrated by portraits of the female nobility by the famous artist Pinkney, were composed at this period of our hero's life and were first addressed to Blanche per post before they figured in print cornets, as it were, to Pinkney's pictorial garland. Verses are all very well. Very elder, Penn Dennis said, who found Penn scratching down one of these artless effusions at the club as he was waiting for his dinner, and letter writing if Mama allows it, and between such old country friends, of course, there may be a correspondence and that sort of thing, but mind Penn and don't commit yourself, my boy, for who knows what the do's may happen. The best way is to make your letters safe. I never wrote a letter in all my life that would commit me, and Demi, sir, if I have had some experience of women. And the worthy gentleman growing more garless and confidential with his nephew as he grew older told many effecting instances of the evil results consequent upon this want of caution to many persons in society. How, from using two ardent expressions and some poetical notes to the widow Naylor, young Spoonie has subjected himself to a visit of her monstrance from the widow's brother, Colonel Flint. This had been forced into a marriage with a woman old enough to be his mother. How, when Louise Assalter had at length succeeded in securing young Sir John Byrd Hopwood of the Blues produced some letters which Miss S had written to him and caused a withdrawal on Byrd's part who afterwards was united to Miss Stickney of Lyme, Regis, et cetera. The major, if he had not reading, had plenty of observation and could back his wise saws with a multitude of modern instances which he had acquired in a long and careful perusal of the great book of the world. Then laughed at the examples and blushing a little at his uncle's remonstrances said that he would bear them in mind and be cautious. He blushed perhaps because he had borne them in mind because he was cautious because in his letters to Miss Blanche he had from instinct or honesty perhaps refrained from any avowals which might compromise him. Don't you remember the lesson I had, Sir and Lady Mirabelle's Miss Father-in-Gays affair? I am not to be caught again, Uncle. Arthur said with mock frankness and humility, O, Pandanus congratulated himself and his nephew heartily on that latter's prudence and progress and was pleased at the position which Arthur was taking as a man of the world. No doubt if Orrington had been consulted his opinion would have been different and he would have told Penn the stories foolish letters were better than the man's adroit compliments and slippery gallantries that to win the woman he loves only a nave or a coward advances undercover with subterfuges and a retreat secured behind him but Penn spoke not on this matter to Mr. Orrington knowing pretty well that he was guilty and what his friend's verdict would be. Colonel Altamont had not been for many weeks absent on his foreign tour Sir Francis Clevering having retired meanwhile into the country pursuant of his agreement with Major Penn Dennis when the ills of fate began to fall rather suddenly and heavily upon the sole remaining partner of the little firm of Shepherd's Inn. When strong at parting with Altamont refused the loan proffered by the latter in the fullness of his purse and the generosity of his heart he made such a sacrifice to conscience and delicacy as caused to many and after twinge and pang and he felt it was not very many hours in his life he had experienced the feeling that in this juncture of his affairs he had been too delicate and too scrupulous. Why should a fellow in want refuse a kind offer kindly made? Why should a thirsty man decline a pitcher of water from a friendly hand because it was a little soil? Strong's conscience smirking for refusing what the other had fairly come by and generously proffered and he thought ruefully now it was too late that Altamont's cash would have been as well in his pocket as in that of the gambling house proprietor at Bodden or Ems with whom his excellency would infallibly leave his derby winnings. It was whispered among the tradesmen Bill Discounters and others who had commercial dealings with Captain Strong that he and the Baronet had parted company and that the captain's paper was henceforth of no value. The tradesmen who had put a wonderful confidence in him hitherto for who could resist Strong's jolly face and frank and honest demeanor now began to pour in their bills with their cowardly mistrust and unanimity. The knocks that the shepherds in chamber's door were constant and tailors, bootmakers, pastry cooks who had furnished dinners in their own persons or by the boys their representatives held levies on Strong's stairs. To these were added one or two persons of a less clamorous but far more sly and dangerous sort the young clerks of lawyers namely who lurked about the inn or concerted with Mr. Campion's young man in the chamber's hard buy having in their dismal pocket books copies of rits to be served on Edward Strong requiring him to appear on an early day next term before our sovereign Lady the Queen and answer to et cetera et cetera. From this invasion of creditors poor Strong who had not a guinea in his pocket had of course no refuge but that of the Englishman's castle into which he retired shutting the outer and inner door upon the enemy and not quitting his stronghold until after nightfall. Against this outer barrier the foe used to come and knock and curse in vain whilst the chivalier peeped at them from behind the little curtain which he had put over the orifice of his letter box and had the dismal satisfaction of seeing the faces of furious clerk and fiery done as they dashed up against the door and retreated from it but as they could not be always at his gate or sleep on his staircase the enemies of the chivalier sometimes left him free. Strong when so pressed by his commercial antagonists was not quite alone in his defense against them but had secured for himself an ally or two his friends were instructed to communicate with him by a system of private signals and they thus kept the garrison from starving by bringing in necessary supplies and kept up Strong's heart and prevented him from surrendering by visiting him and cheering him in his retreat. Two of Ned's most faithful allies were Huxter and Miss Fanny Bolton. When hostile visitors were prowling about the hymn Fanny's little sisters were taught a particular cry or yodel which they innocently whooped in the court when Fanny and Huxter came up to visit Strong they actually sang the same note at his door when that barrier was straightway opened the honest garrison came out smiling the provisions and the pot of porter were brought in and in the society of his faithful friends the beleaguered one passed a comfortable night there are some men who could not live under this excitement but Strong was a brave man as we have said who had seen service and never lost heart in peril but besides allies our general had secured for himself under difficulties that still more necessary aid a retreat it has been mentioned in a former part of this history how Messiers Costigan and Bose lived in the house next door to Captain Strong and that the window of one of their rooms was not very far off the kitchen window which was situated in the upper story of Strong's chambers a leaden water pipe and gutter served for the two and Strong looking out from his kitchen one day saw that he could spring with great ease up to the sill of his neighbor's window and clamor up the pipe which communicated from one to the other he had laughingly shown this refuge to his gem, Altamont and they had agreed that it would be as well not to mention the circumstance to Captain Costigan whose dunes were numerous and who would be constantly flying down the pipe into their apartments if this way of escape were shown to him but now that the evil days were come Strong made use of the passage and one afternoon burst in upon Bose and Costigan with his jolly face and explained that the enemy was in waiting on his staircase and that he had taken this means of giving them the slip so while Mr. Marx's aids to camp were in waiting in the passage of number three Strong walked down the steps of number four dined at the Albion, went to the play and returned home at midnight to the astonishment of Mrs. Bolton and Fanny who had not seen him quit his chambers and could not conceive how he could have passed the line of centuries Strong bore this siege for some weeks with admirable spirit and resolution and as only such an old and brave soldier would for the pains and privations which he had to endure were enough to depress any man of ordinary courage and what Bexton riled him to use his own expression was the infernal indifference and cowardly ingratitude of clevering to whom he wrote letter after letter which the Baronette never acknowledged by a single word or by the smallest premitence though a five pound note of Strong said at that time would have been a fortune to him the better days were in store for the Chevalier and in the midst of his despondency there came to him a most welcome aid yes, if it hadn't been for this good fellow here said Strong, for a good fellow you are, Altamont my boy, and hang me if I don't stand by you as long as I live I think, Pendenis, it would have been all up with Ned Strong I was the fifth week of my being kept a prisoner for I couldn't be always risking my neck across that water pipe and taking my walks abroad through poor old Casa's window and my spirit was quite broken, sir and I was standing at the stand and I was thinking of putting an end to myself and should have done it in another week when who should drop down from Heaven but Altamont Heaven ain't exactly the place, Ned said Altamont I came from Bodin, Bodin said he and I had a deuced lucky month there that's all well sir, he took up Marx's bill and he paid the other fellows that were upon me like a man, sir, that he did said Strong enthusiastically and I shall be very happy to stand at the level of Claret for this company and as many more as the company chooses said Mr. Altamont with a blush hello waiter bring us a magnum of the right sort do you hear and we'll drink our hells all round, sir and may every good fellow like Strong find another good fellow to stand by him at a pinch, that's my sentiment Mr. Pendenis though I don't like your name no and why asked Arthur Strong pressed the colonel's foot under the table here and Altamont rather excited filled up another bumper nodded to pen, drank off his wine and said he was a gentleman and that was sufficient and they were all gentlemen the meeting between these all gentlemen took place at Richmond with their Pendenis had gone to dinner and where he found the Chevalier and his friend at table in the coffee room both of the latter were exceedingly hilarious, talkative and excited by wine and Strong who was an admirable storyteller told the story of his own siege and adventures and escapes with great liveliness and humor and described the talk of the sheriff's officers at his door the pretty little signals of fanny the grotesque exclamations of costigan when the Chevalier burst in at his window in his final rescue by Altamont in a most graphic manner and so is greatly to interest his hearers as for me it's nothing Altamont said when a ship's paid off a chap spends his money you know and it's the fellas at the black and red at bottom bottom that did it I want a good bit of money there and intend to win a good bit more don't die Strong I'm going to take him with me I've got a system I'll make his fortune I tell you I'll make your fortune if you like Dammy everybody's fortunate but what I'll do and no mistake boys I promise you I'll put in for that little fanny Dammy sir what do you think she did she had two pound and I'm blessed if she didn't go and lend it to Ned Strong didn't she Ned let's drink her health with all my heart said Arthur and pledged this toast with the greatest cordiality Mr. Altamont then began with the greatest variability at great length to describe his system he said that it was infallible if played with coolness that he had it from a chap at bottom who had lost by it it was true but because he had not enough capital if he could have stood one more turn of the wheel he would have had all his money back that he and several more chaps were going to make a bank and try it and that he would put every shelling he was worth into it and had come back to the country for the express purpose of fetching away his money and Captain Strong that Strong should play for him that he could trust Strong in his temper much better than he could his own and much better than Blawn Dell Blawn Dell or the Italian that stood in as he emptied his bottle the Colonel described at full length all his plans and prospects to pen he was interested in listening to his story and the confessions of his daring and lawless good humor I met that queer fellow Altamont the other day Penn said to his uncle a day or two afterwards Altamont what Altamont there's Lord Resport's son said the major no no the fellow who came tipsy into Claverin's dining room one day when we were there said the nephew laughing he said he did not like the name of Penn Dennis though he did me the honor to think that I was a good fellow I don't know any man of the name of Altamont I give you my honor said the impenetrable major and as for your acquaintance I think the less you have to do with him Arthur Laftygini is going to quit the country make his fortune by a gambling system he and my amiable college acquaintance Blawn Dell are partners and the Colonel takes out strong with him as they can what is it that binds the Chevalier in Claverin I wonder I should think mind you Penn I should think but of course I have only the idea that there has been something in Claverin's previous life which gives these fellows and some others a certain power over him and if there should be no such a secret which are fair vows my boy dammit I say it ought to be a lesson to a man to keep himself straight in life and not to give any man a chance over him why I think you have some means of persuasion over Claverin uncle or why should he give me that seat in Parliament Claverin thinks he ain't fit for Parliament the major answer no more he is what's to prevent him from putting you or anybody else into his place if he likes do you think that government or the opposition would make any bones about accepting the seat if he offered it to them why should you be more squeamish than the first men and the most honorable men and men of the highest birth and position in the country began the major had an answer of this kind to most of Penn's objections and Penn accepted his uncle's replies not so much because he believed them but because he wished to believe them we do a thing which of us has not not because everybody does it but because we like it and the last proves not that everybody is right but that we in the rest of the world are poor creatures alike at his next visit to Tunbridge Mr. Penn did not forget to amuse Ms. Blanche with the history which he had learned at Richmond of the Chevaliers imprisonment and of Ultimates gallant rescue and after he had told his tale in his usual satirical way mentioned with craze and emotion little fannies generous behavior to the Chevaliers and Ultimates enthusiasm in her behalf Ms. Blanche was somewhat jealous and a good deal peaked and curious about fanny among the many confidential little communications which Arthur made to Ms. Amory in the course of their delightful rural drives and their sweet evening walks it may be supposed that our hero would not forget a story so interesting to himself and so likely to be interesting to her as that of the passion and cure of the poor little Ariadne of Shepherd's Inn his own part in that drama he described to do him justice with becoming the moral which he wished to draw from the tale being one in accordance with his usual satirical mood bees that women get over their first love quite as easily as men do for the fair Blanche and their in times conversations did not cease to twitness depend about his notorious failure and his own virgin attachment to the fathering gay and number one being withdrawn transfer themselves to number two without much difficulty and poor little fanny was offered up in sacrifice as an instance to prove this theory what griefs she had endured and surmounted what bitter pangs of hopeless attachment she had drawn through what time it had taken to heal those wounds of the tender little bleeding heart Mr. Penn did not know or perhaps did not choose to know for he was at once modest and doubtful about his capabilities as a conqueror of hearts and a verse to believe that he had executed any dangerous ravages on that particular one though his own instance an argument told himself in this case for if as he said Miss Fanny was by this time in love with her surgical adorer who would neither good looks nor good manners nor wit nor anything but ardor and fidelity to recommend him must she not in her first sickness of the love complaint have had a serious attack and suffer keenly for a man who had certainly a number of the show equalities which Mr. Huckster wanted. You wicked odious creature Miss Blanche said I believe that you are enraged with Fanny for being so impudent as to forget you and that you are actually jealous of Mr. Huckster perhaps Miss Emery was right as the blush which came in spite of himself and tingled upon Penn Dennis' cheek one of those blows with which a man's vanity is constantly slapping his face proved to Penn that he was angry to think he had been superseded by such a rival by such a fellow as that without any conceivable good quality oh Mr. Penn Dennis although this remark does not apply to such a remark fellow as you if nature had not made that provision for each sex in that crudility of the other which sees good qualities where none exist good looks in donkey's ears wit in their numb skulls and music in their bray there would not have been near so much marrying and giving in marriage as now obtains and as is necessary for the due propagation and continuance of the noble race to which we belong jealous or not Penn said and Blanche I don't say no I should have liked Fanny to have come to a better end than that I don't like histories that end in that cynical way and when we arrive at the conclusion of the story of a pretty girl's passion to find such a vigorous hucksters at the last page of the tale is a life a compromise my lady fair and the end of the battle of love and ignoble surrender is the search for the cupid which my poor little psyche pursued in the darkness the god of her soul's longing the god of the lake and rainbow opinions to result in hucksters smelling of tobacco and galley pots I wish though I don't see it in life that people could be like Jenny and Jessamy or my lord and lady Clementina in the story books and fashionable novels and at once under the ceremony and as it were at the Parsons benediction become perfectly handsome and good and happy ever after and don't you intend to be good and happy pray miss you look miss and throat and are you very discontented your lot and will your marriage be a compromise as the author may alarm without charming muay and is your psyche an odious vulgar wretch you wicked satirical creature I can't abide you you take the hearts of young things play with them and fling them away with scorn you ask for love and trample on it you you make me cry that you do Arthur and and and don't and I won't be consoled in that way and I think that he was quite right in leaving such a heartless creature again I don't say no said pen looking very gloomily at blanche and not offering by any means to repeat the attempt at consolation which had elicited that sweet monosyllable don't from the young lady I don't think I have much of what people call heart but I don't profess it I made my venture when I was 18 and lighted my lamp and went in search of Cupid and what was my discovery of love a vulgar dancing woman I failed as everybody does almost everybody only it is like you to fail before marriage then after merci du choix Monsieur said the self-feed making a curtsy look my little bench said pen taking her hand and with his voice of sad good humor at least I stooped to know flatteries quite the contrary said Miss Blanche until you know foolish lies as vulgar men do why should you and I with our experience a romance and dissemble passion I do not believe Miss Blanche Emery to be peerless among the beautiful nor the greatest poetess nor the most surpassing any more than I believe you to be the tallest woman in the whole world like the giantess whose picture we saw as we rode through the fair yesterday but if I don't set you up as a heroine neither do I offer you your very humble servant as a hero but I think you are well there I think you are very sufficiently good looking. Merci Miss Blanche said with another curtsy I think you sing charmingly I'm sure you're clever I hope and believe that you are good natured and that you will be amenable and so provided I bring you a certain sum of money in a seat in parliament you can't ascend a fling to me your royal pocket handkerchief said Blanche. Good doner we used to call your highness the prince of fair oaks what an honor to think that I am to be elevated to the throne and to bring the seat in parliament as back sheesh to the sultan I'm glad I am clever that I can play and sing to your liking my songs will amuse my lord's leisure and if thieves are about the house a pen grimly pursuing the simile forty besetting thieves in the shape of lurking cares and enemies and ambush and passionate arms my morgueanna will dance round me with a tambourine and kill all my rogues and thieves with a smile won't she but pen looked as if he did not believe that she would. Ah Blanche she continued after a pause don't be angry don't be hurt at my truth telling don't you see that I always take you at your word you say you will be a slave and dance I say dance you say I take you with what you bring I say I take you with what you bring to the necessary deceits and hypocrisies of our life why add any that are useless and unnecessary if I offer myself to you because I think we have a fair chance of being happy together because by your help I make it for both of us a good place and a not undistinguished name why ask me to feign raptures and count of it romance in which neither of us believe do you want me to come wooing in a prince pretty man's dress from the masquerade warehouse and to pay you compliments like Sir Charles Randerson do you want me to make you verses as in the days when we were children I will if you like and sell them to bacon and bange afterwards shall I feed my pretty princess with bonbon mais j'adore les bonbons moi so the little self feed with a queer piteous look I can buy a hatful at Fortnum and masons and it shall have its bonbons its pootie little sugar plums that it shall pen said with a bit of smile nay my dear, nay my dearest little blanche don't cry dry the pretty eyes I can't bear that and he proceeded to offer that consolation which the circumstance required in which the tears the genuine tears of vexation which now sprang from the angry eyes of the author of male arm demanded the scornful and sarcastic tone of pendentus quite frightened and overcame the girl I don't want your consolation I never was so spoken to before by anybody she sobbed out with much simplicity anybody shouted out pen with a savage burst of laughter and blanche blushed one of the most genuine blushes which her cheek had ever exhibited and she cried out oh Arthur vous êtes en armes taribes she felt bewildered, frightened, depressed the worldly little flirt who had been playing at love for the last dozen years of her life and yet she raised up meeting a master tell me Arthur she said after a pause in this strange love making why does Sir Francis Cleverand give up his seat in Parliament oh Fay, why does he give it to me asked Arthur now blushing in his turn you always mock me sir she said if it is good to be in Parliament why does Sir Francis go out my uncle has talked him over he always said that you were not sufficiently provided for in the family disputes when you're at mama so liberally it was stipulated I suppose that you that is that I that is upon my word I don't know why he goes out of Parliament Penn said with rather a forced laugh you see blanche that you and I are too good little children and that this marriage has been arranged for us by our mamas and uncles and that we must be obedient like a good little boy and girl so when Penn went to Blondin he sent blanche a box of bonbon each sugarplum of which was wrapped up in ready made French verses and besides dispatch to her some poems of his own manufacture quite as artless and authentic and it was no wonder that he did not tell Warrington what his conversations with Miss Amy had been of so delicate a sentiment were they and of a nature so necessarily private and if like many a worse and better man Arthur Pendinus the widow's son was meditating an apostasy and going to sell himself to we all know whom at least the renegade did not pretend to be a believer in the creed which he was ready to swear and if every woman a man in this kingdom who has sold her or himself for money or position as Mr. Pendinus was about to do would but purchase a copy of his memoirs what tons of volumes must use Bradbury Evans would sell end of chapter 65 chapter 66 of the history of Pendinus 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 Pendinus by William Makepeace Thackeray chapter 66 in which Penn begins his canvas melancholy as the great house at clovering park had been in the days before his marriage when its bankrupt proprietor was a refugee in foreign lands there was not much more cheerful now when Sir Francis Clavering came to inhabit it the greater part of the mansion was shut up and the baronet only occupied a few of the rooms on the ground floor where his housekeeper and her assistant from the live gate waited upon the luckless gentleman in his forced retreat and cooked a part of the game which he spent the dreary mornings in shooting Lightfoot his man had passed over to my ladies service and as Penn was informed in that letter from Mr. Smirk who performed the ceremony had executed his prudent intention of marrying Mrs. Bonner my ladies woman who in her mature years was stricken with the charms of the youth and endowed him with her savings and her mature person to be landlord and landlady of the clovering arms was the ambition of both of them and it was agreed that they were to remain in lady service until quarter day arrived when they were to take possession of their hotel Penn graciously promised that he would give his election dinner there when the baronet should vacate his seat in the young man's favor and as it had been agreed by his uncle to whom Clavering seemed to be able to refuse nothing Arthur came down in September on a visit to clovering park the owner of which was very glad to have a companion who would perhaps would lend him a little ready money Penn furnished his host with these desirable supplies a couple of days after he had made his appearance at clovering and no sooner were these small funds in Sir Francis's pocket than the latter found he had business at Chatteros and at the neighboring watering places of which blank sure boasts many and went off to see to his affairs which were transacted as might be supposed at the county race grounds and billiard rooms Arthur could live alone well enough having many mental resources and amusements which did not require of the person's company he could walk with the gamekeeper of a morning and for the evenings there was a plenty of books and occupation for a literary genius like Mr. Arthur who required but a cigar and a sheet of paper or two to make the night pass away pleasantly in truth in two or three days he had found the society clovering perfectly intolerable and it was with a mischievous eagerness and satisfaction that he offered clovering the little pecuniary aid which the latter according to his custom solicited and supplied him with the means of taking flight from his own house besides our ingenious friend had to ingratiate himself with the townspeople of clovering and with the voters of the borough which he hoped to represent and he set himself to this task with only the more eagerness remembering how unpopular he had before been in clovering and determined to vanquish the odium which he had inspired amongst the simple people there his sense of humor made him delight in this task naturally rather reserved and silent and public he became on a sudden as frank easy and jovial as captain strong he laughed with everybody who would exchange a laugh with him shook hands right and left he called it dextrous cordiality made his appearance at the market day and the farm as ordinary and then fine acted like a consummate hypocrite and as gentlemen of the highest birth the most spotless integrity act when they wish to make themselves agreeable to their constituents and have some end to gain of the country folks how is it that we allow ourselves not to be deceived but to be ingratiated so readily by a glib tongue a ready laugh in a frank manner we know for the most part that it is false coin and we take it we know that it is flattery which it caused nothing to distribute to everybody and we had rather have it than be without it friend Penn went about the clovering laboriously simple and adroitly pleased and quite a different being from the scornful and rather sulky young dandy whom the inhabitants remembered ten years ago the rectory was shut up doctor the portman was gone with his gout and his family to harrogate an event which Penn deplored very much in a letter to the doctor in which in a few kind and simple words he expressed his regret in not seeing his old friend whose advice he wanted and whose aid he might require some day but Penn consoled himself for the doctor's absence by making acquaintance with Mr. Simcoe the opposition preacher and with the two partners of the cloth factory at Chatteris and with the independent preacher there all of whom he met at clovering Athenium which the liberal party had set up in accordance with the advanced spirit of the age and perhaps in opposition to the aristocratic old reading room into which the Edinburgh review had once scarcely got an admission and where no treesmen were allowed an entrance he propitiated the younger partner of the cloth factory by asking him to dine in a friendly way at the park he complimented the honourable Mrs. Simcoe with hairs and partridges from the same quarter and a request to read her husband's last sermon and being a little unwell one day the rascal took advantage of the circumstance to show his tongue to Mr. Huckster who sent him medicines and called the next morning how delighted old Penn Dennis would have been with his pupil Penn himself was amused with the sport and his success inspired him with a wicked good humour and yet as he walked out of clovering of a night after presiding at a meeting of the Athenium or working through an evening with Mrs. Simcoe who with her husband was awed by the young Londoners reputation and had heard of his social successes as he passed over the old familiar bridge of the rushing brawl and heard that well remembered sound of waters beneath and saw his own image of fair oaks among the trees their darkling outlines clear against the starlit sky different thoughts no doubt came to the young man's mind and awakened pangs of grief and shame there there still used to be a light in the windows of the room which he remembered so well and in which the saint who loved him had passed so many hours of care and yearning and prayer he turned away his gaze as though it was his mother's spirit watching in mourning how clear the night was how keen the stars shone how ceaseless the rush of the flowing waters the old home trees whispered and waved gently their dark heads and branches over the cottage roof yonder in the faint star light glimmer was the terrace where as a boy he walked of summer evenings ardent and trustful unspotted untried ignorant of doubts or passions sheltered as yet emanation in the pure and anxious bosom of love the clock of the near town tolling midnight with a clang disturbs our wondrous reverie and sends him onwards towards his night's resting place through the lodge into Clevering Avenue and under the dark arcades of the rustling lines when he sees the cottage the next time it is smiling in sunset those bedroom windows are open where the light was burning the night before Lieutenant Captain Stokes of the Bombay Artillery whose mother, old Mrs. Stokes lives in Clevering receives his landlord's visit with great cordiality shows him over the grounds and the new pond he has made in the back garden from the stables talks to him confidentially about the roof and chimneys and begs Mr. Pendennis to name a day when he will do himself and Mrs. Stokes the pleasure to, etc Penn, who has been a fortnight in the country, excuses himself having called sooner upon the captain by frankly owning that he had not the heart to do it I understand you sir the captain says and Mrs. Stokes who had slipped away at the ring of the bell how odd it seemed to Penn to ring the bell comes down in her best gown surrounded by her children the young ones clam about Stokes the boy jumps into an armchair it was Penn's father's armchair and Arthur remembers the days when he would have thought of mounting the king's throne as of seating himself in that armchair he asks if Mrs. Stokes she is the very image of her mama if she can play he should like to hear a tune on that piano she plays, he hears the notes of the old piano once more in feeble by age but he does not listen to the player he is listening to Laura singing as in the days of their youth and sees his mother bending and beating time over the shoulder of the girl the dinner at Fair Oaks given in Penn's honor by his tenant and at which old Mrs. Stokes, Captain Glanders Squire Hobnell and the clergyman and his lady from Tinkhulton were present, was very stupid and melancholy for Penn until the waiter from Claverin who waited the captain's stable boy and Mrs. Stokes' butler whom Penn remembered as a street boy and who was now indeed Barber in that place dropped a plate over Penn's shoulder and Mr. Hobnell who also employed him remarked, I suppose Hudson, your hands are slippery with bears grease he's always dropping the crockery about that Hudson is ha ha on which Hudson blushed and looked so disconcerted that Penn burst out laughing and good humor and hilarity were the order of the evening for the second course there was a hair and partridges top and bottom and when after the withdrawal of the servants Penn said to the vicar of Tinkhulton I think Mr. Stokes you should have asked Hudson to cut the hair the joke was taken instantly by the clergyman who was followed in the course of a few minutes by Captain Stokes and Glanders and by Mr. Hobnell who arrived rather late but with an immense guffaw while Mr. Penn was engaged in the country in the above schemes it happened that the lady of his choice if not of his affections came up to London from the Tunbridge bound upon shopping expeditions or important business in company of old Mrs. Bonner her mother's maid who had lived and quarrelled with Blanche many times since she was an infant and who now being about to quit Lady Clevering's service for the Hymenial State was anxious like a good soul to bestow some token of respectful kindness upon her old and young mistress before she quitted them all together to take her post as the wife of Lightfoot and landlady of the Clevering arms the honest woman took the benefit of Ms. Aemri's taste to make the purchase which she intended to offer her lady's ship and requested the fair Blanche to choose something for herself that should be to her liking and remind her of her old nurse who had attended her through many a wakeful night and eventful teething and childish fever and loved her like her child of her own almost these purchases were made and as the nurse insisted on buying an immense Bible for Blanche the young lady suggested that Bonner should purchase a large Johnson's dictionary for her mama each of the two women might certainly profit by the present made to her then Mrs. Bonner invested money in some bargains and linen drapery which might be useful like the Clevering arms and bought a red and yellow neck handkerchief which Blanche could see at once was intended for Mr. Lightfoot younger than herself by at least five and twenty years Mrs. Bonner regarded that youth with a fondness at once parental and conjugal and loved to lavish ornaments on his person which already glittered with pins, rings, short stubs and chains and seals purchased at the good creature's expense it was in the strand that Mrs. Bonner made her purchases aided by Miss Blanche who liked the fund very well and when the old lady had bought everything that she desired and was leaving the shop Blanche with a smiling face and a sweet bow to one of the shopmen said praise her where you have the kindness to show us the way to Shepherds Inn Shepherds Inn was but a few score of yards off Old Castle Street was closed by the elegant young shopman pointed out the attorney which the young lady was to take and she and her companion walked off together Shepherds Inn what can you want in Shepherds Inn Miss Blanche Bonner inquired Mr. Strong lives there do you want to go and see the captain I should like to see the captain very well I like the captain but it is not him I want I want to see a dear little good girl who was very kind to Mr. Arthur when he was so ill last year and saved his life almost and I want to thank her and ask her if she would like anything I looked out several of my dresses on purpose this morning Bonner and she looked at Bonner as if she had a right to admiration and had performed an act of remarkable virtue Blanche indeed was very fond of sugar plums she would have fed the poor upon them when she had had enough and given a country girl a bald dress when she had worn it and was tired of it pretty girl, pretty young woman mumbled Mrs. Bonner I know I want no pretty young women to come about lightfoot and in imagination she peopled the clattering arms with a harem of the most hideous chamber maids and bar maids Blanche with pink and blue and feathers and flowers and trinkets that wondrous invention was not extant yet or she would have had one we may be sure and a shot silk dress and a wonderful mantle and a charming parasol presented a vision of elegance and beauty such as bewildered the eyes of Mrs. Bolton who was scrubbing the lodge floor of shepherd's inn and caused Betsy Jane and Amelia Ann to look with delight Blanche looked on them with a smile of ineffable sweetness and protection like Rowena going to see Rebecca like Mary Antoinette visiting the poor in the famine like the Marchioness of Caraba alighting from her carriage and four at a pauper attendance door and taking from John number two some salt for the inbliss benefit carrying it with her own imperial hand into the sick room Blanche built a queen stepping down from her throne to visit a subject and enjoyed all the blind consciousness of doing a good action my good woman I want to see Fanny Fanny Bolton is she here Mrs. Bolton had a sudden suspicion from the splendor of Blanche's appearance that it must be a play actor or something worse what do you want with Fanny Prey I'm Lady Cleverine's daughter you have heard of Sir Francis Cleverine and I wish very much indeed to see Fanny Bolton Prey step in Miss Betsy Jane where's Fanny Betsy Jane said Fanny had gone into number three staircase on which Mrs. Bolton said she was probably in Strong's rooms and bad the child go and see if she was there in Captain Strong's rooms oh let us go to Captain Strong's rooms cried out Ms. Blanche I know him very well you dearest little girl show us the way to Captain Strong cried out Ms. Blanche for the floor reeked with the recent scrubbing and the goddess did not like the smell of brown soap and as they passed up the stairs a gentleman by the name of Costigan who happened to be swaggering about the court and gave a very knowing look with his oi under Blanche's bonnet remarked to himself that's a devilish foing girl bed-egg going up to Strong and Altamont they're always having foing girls upstairs hello what's that he presently said looking up at the winters from which some piercing shrieks issued at the sound of the voice of a distressed female the intrepid costs rushed up the stairs as fast as his old legs would carry him being nearly overthrown by a strong servant who was descending the stair Cost found the outer door of Strong's chambers opened and began to thunder at the knocker after many in fierce knocks the inner door was partially enclosed it's oi me boy hello what's that noise Strong asked Costigan go to the devil was the only answer and the door was shut and causes venerable red nose and he went downstairs muttering threats that the indignity offered to him and knowing that he would have satisfaction in the meanwhile the reader more lucky than Captain Costigan will have the privilege of being made acquainted with the secret which was withheld from that officer it has been said how generous a disposition Mr. Altamont was and when he was well supplied with funds how liberally he spent them of a hospitable turn he had no greater pleasure than drinking in company with other people so that there was no man more welcome at Greenwich than Richmond than the emissary of the Nawab of Lucknell now at chance that on the day when Blanche and Mrs. Bonner ascended the staircase to Strong's room in Shepherd's Inn the Colonel had invited Miss of the Blanche Theatre Royale and her mother Mrs. Hodge to a little party down the river and it had been agreed that they were to meet at chambers and then walk down to a port in the neighboring strand to take water so that when Mrs. Bonner and May Larm came to the door where greedy Altamont's servant was standing the domestic said walk in ladies with the utmost affability and let them enter the room which was arranged as if they had been expected there indeed two bouquets of flowers bought at Covent Garden that morning and instances of the Tender Gallant of Altamont were awaiting his guests upon the table Blanche smelt at the bouquet and put her pretty little dainty nose into it and tripped about the room and looked behind the curtains and at the books and prints and at the plan of clavvering estate hanging up on the wall and had asked the servant for Captain Strong and had almost forgotten his existence and they called him so pleased was she with the new adventure and the odd strange delightful little idea of being in a bachelor's chambers in a queer old place in the city Grady meanwhile with a pair of ample varnished boots had disappeared into his master's room Blanche at hardly the leisure to remark how big the boots were and how unlike Mr. Strong's the women's calm said Grady helping his master through the boots did you ask him if they would take a glass of anything Altamont Grady came out he says will you take anything to drink the domestic asked of them at which Blanche amused with the artless question broke out into a pretty little laugh and asked Mrs. Bonner shall we take anything to drink well you may take it or leave it said Mr. Grady who thought his offer slighted and did not like the contemptuous manner of newcomers and so left them will we take anything to drink Blanche asked again and again began to laugh Grady rolled out a voice from the chamber within a voice that made Mrs. Bonner start Grady did not answer his song was heard from afar off from the kitchen his upper room where Grady was singing at his work Grady my coat again roared the voice from within why that is not Mr. Strong's voice said that self-beads still half laughing Grady my coat Bonner who is Grady my coat we ought to go away Bonner still looked quite puzzled at the sound of the voice which he had heard the bedroom door here opened and the individual who called out Grady my coat appeared without the garment in question he nodded to the women and walked across the room I beg your pardon ladies Grady bring my coat down sir well my dears it's a fine day and we'll have a jolly lark at Blanche he said no more for here Mrs. Bonner who had been looking at him with scared eyes suddenly shrieked out amory amory and fell back screaming and fainting in their chair the man so apostrophized looked at the woman an instant and rushing up to Blanche seized her and kissed her yes Betsy he said by God it is me Mary Bonner knew me what a fine gal we've grown but it's a secret mind I'm dead though I'm your father your poor mother don't know it what a pretty gal we've grown kiss me kiss me close my Betsy I love you I'm your old father Betsy or Blanche looked quite bewildered and began to scream too once twice thrice and it was her peers seeing shrieks which Captain Costigan heard as he walked the coward below at the sound of these shrieks the perplexed parent clasped his hands his wristbands were open and on one brawny arm you could see letters tattooed in blue and rushing to his apartment came back with an odour cologne bottle from his grand silver dressing case with the fragrant contents of which he began liberally to sprinkle Bonner and Blanche the screams of these women brought the other occupants of the chambers into the room Grady from his kitchen and strong from his apartment in the upper story the latter at once saw from the aspect of the two women what had occurred Grady go and wait in the court he said and if anybody comes you understand me is it the play actor center mother said Grady yes confound you say that there's nobody in chambers and the party's off for today shall I say that sir and after I bought them bouquets asked Grady of his master yes said Amory with a stamp of his foot and went to the door to reached it just in time to prevent the entrance of captain costigan who had now to the stair the ladies from the theater did not have their treat to Greenwich nor did Blanche pay her visit to Vanny Bolton on that day and cause he took occasion majestically to inquire of Grady what the mischief was and who was crying had for answer that was a woman another of them and that they were in Grady's opinion the cause of most all the mischief in the world end of chapter 66 chapter 67 of the history of Pendennis 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 Pendennis by William Makepeace Thackery chapter 67 in which Penn begins to doubt about his election whilst Penn in his own county was thus carrying on his selfish plans and parliamentary schemes news came to him that Lady Rockminster had arrived at Baymouth and had brought with her our friend Laura at the announcement that Laura his sister was near him Penn felt rather guilty his wish was to stand higher in her esteem perhaps of any other person in the world she was his mother's legacy to him he was to be her patron and protector in some sort how would she brave the news which he had to tell her and how should he explain the plans which he was meditating he felt as if neither he nor Blanche could bear Laura's dazzling glance of calm scrutiny and as if he would not dare to disclose his worldly hopes and ambitions to that spotless judge at her arrival at Baymouth he wrote a letter thither which contained a great number of fine phrases and protests of affection and a great deal of easy satire and railery in the midst of all which Mr. Penn could not help feeling that he was in panic and that he was acting like a rogue and hypocrite how was it that a simple country girl should be the object of fear and trembling to such an accomplished gentleman as Mr. Penn his worldly tactics and diplomacy, his satire and knowledge of the world could not bear the test of her purity he felt somehow and he had to earn to himself that his affairs were in such a position that he could not tell the truth to that honest soul as he wrote from Clevering to Baymouth he felt as guilty as a schoolboy who doesn't know his lesson and is about to face the awful master for he is not truth the master always but he has the power and hold the book under the charge of her kind though somewhat wayward and absolute patroness Lady Rockminster Laura had seen somewhat of the world in the last year had gathered some accomplishments and profited by the lessons of society many a girl who had been accustomed to that too great tenderness in which Laura's early life had been passed would have been unfitted for the changed existence of her lead Helen worshipped her two children and thought as home-bred women will that all the world was made for them or to be considered after them she tended Laura without watchfulness of affection which never left her if she had a headache the widow was as alarmed as if there had never been an aching head before in the world she slept and woke red and moved under her mother's fond superintendence which was not withdrawn from her tender creature whose anxious heart would beat no more and painful moments of grief and depression no doubt Laura had when she stood in the great careless world alone nobody heeded her griefs or heard solitude she was not quite the equal in social rank of the lady whose companion she was or of the friends and relatives of the imperious but kind old dowager some very likely bore her no goodwill perhaps slighted her it might have been that servants were occasionally rude their mistress certainly was often Laura not seldom found herself in family meetings the confidence and familiarity of which she felt were interrupted by her intrusion and her sensitiveness of course was wounded at the idea that she should give or feel this annoyance how many governesses other in the world thought cheerful Laura how many ladies whose necessities make them slaves and companions by profession what bad tempers and course on kindness have not these to encounter how infinitely better my lot is with these really kind and affectionate people than that of thousands of unprotected girls it was with this cordial spirit that our young lady adapted herself to her new position and went in advance of her fortune with a trustful smile did you ever know a person who met fortune in that way when the goddess did not regard kindly are not even bad people won by constant surefulness and a pure and affectionate heart when the babes in the wood in the ballad looked up fondly and trustfully at those notorious rogues whom their uncle had set to make away with the little folks we all know how one of the rascals relented and made away with the other not having the heart to be unkind to so much innocence and beauty oh happy they who have that virgin trust and sweet smiling confidence in the world and fear no evil because they think none miss Laura Bell was one of these fortunate persons and besides the gentle widows little cross which as we have seen pen gave her had such a sparkling and brilliant co and newer inner bosom as is even more precious than that famous jewel for it not only fetches a price and is retained by its owner in another world where diamonds are stated to be of no value but here is of inestimable worth to its possessor is a talisman against evil and lightens up the darkness of life like Koji Hasan's famous stone so that before miss bell had been a year in lady rock minster's house there was not a single person in it whose love she had not won by the use of this talisman from the old lady to the lowest dependent of her bounty Laura had secured the goodwill and kindness of her buddy with the mistress of such a temper my ladies woman who would endure her mistress for 40 years and have been caught and scolded and jibed every day and night in that space of time could not be expected to have a good temper of her own and was at first angry against miss Laura as she had been against her lady ship's 15 preceding companions but when Laura was ill at Paris this old woman nursed her in spite of her mistress who was afraid of catching the fever and absolutely fought for her medicine with Martha from ferox now advanced to be miss Laura's own maid as she was recovering grand genre the chef wanted to kill her by the numbers of delicacies which he addressed for her and weapon she ate her first slice of chicken the Swiss major Delmo of the house celebrated miss bell's praises in almost every European language which he spoke with indifferent and correctness the coachman was happy to drive her out the page cried when he heard she was ill and Calverley and cold stream those two footmen so large so calm ordinarily and so difficult to move broke out into extraordinary hilarity at the news of her convalescence and intoxicated the page at a wine shop to fetch Laura's recovery even lady Diana our former acquaintance Mr. Pincent had married by this time lady Diana who had had a considerable dislike to Laura for some time was so enthusiastic to say that she thought miss Bell was a very agreeable person and that Grandma Ma had found a great true value in her all this goodwill and kindness Laura had acquired not by any arts not by any flattery but by the simple force of good nature and by the blessed gift of pleasing and being pleased on the one or two occasions when he had seen Lady Rockminster the old lady who did not admire him had been very pitiless and abrupt with our young friend and perhaps Penn expected when he came to Baymouth to find Laura installed in her house in the quality of humble companion and treated no better than himself when she heard of his arrival she came running downstairs and I'm not sure that she did not embrace him in the presence of Calverly and Coldstream not that those gentlemen ever told if the fractus orbus had come to a smash if Laura instead of kissing Penn had taken her scissors and snipped off his head Calverly and Coldstream would have looked on impassively and without allowing a grain of powder to be disturbed by the calamity Laura had so much improved in health and looks that Penn could not but admire her the frank and kind eyes which met his being with good health with cheek with cheek kissed blessed with beauty as he looked at her artless and graceful pure and candid he thought he had never seen her so beautiful why should he remark her beauty now so much the remark to himself that he had not remarked it sooner he took her fair trustful hand and kissed it fondly he looked in her bright clear eyes and read in them that kindly welcome which he was always sure to find there he was affected and touched by the tender tone and the pure sparkling glance there in a sense not him somehow and moved him how good you are to me Laura sister said Penn I don't deserve that you should that you should be so kind to me Mama left you to me she said stooping down and brushing his forehead with her lips hastily you know you were to come to me when you were in trouble or to tell me when you were very happy that was our compact Arthur last year before we parted are you very happy now or are you in trouble which isn't and she looked at him with an arch glance of kindness do you like going into Parliament do you intend to distinguish yourself there how I shall tremble for your first speech do you know about the Parliament plan then Penn asked no all the world knows I've heard it talked about many times Lady Rockminster's doctor talked about it today I dare say it will be in the chatterous paper tomorrow it's all over the county that Sir Francis Cleverie of Cleverie is going to retire on behalf of Mr. Arthur Penn Dennis of Fair Oaks and that the young and beautiful Miss Blanche Amery is what that too asked Penn Dennis that too dear Arthur to sir today as somebody would say whom I intend to be very fond of and who I'm sure is very clever and pretty I've had a letter from Blanche the kindest of letters she speaks so warmly of you Arthur I hope I know she feels what she writes when is it to be Arthur why did you not tell me I may come and live with you then may and die my home is yours dear Lord and everything I have Penn said if I did not tell you it was because because I do not know nothing is decided as yet no words have passed between us but you think Blanche could be happy with me don't you not a romantic fondness you know I have no heart I think I've told her so only a sober sided attachment and want my wife on one side of the fire and my sister on the other Parliament in the session of Fair Oaks and the holidays and my Lord never to leave me until somebody who has a right comes to take her away somebody who has a right somebody with a right why did Penn as he looked at the girl and slowly uttered the words begin to feel angry and jealous of the invisible somebody with the right to take her away anxious but a minute ago how she would take the news regarding his probable arrangements with Blanche Penn was hurt somehow that she received the intelligence so easily and took his happiness for granted until somebody comes Laura said with a laugh I will stay at home and be on Laura and take care of my children and Blanche is in the world I've arranged it all I'm an excellent housekeeper you know I've been to market at Paris with Mrs. Beck and have taken some lessons from Mr. Grand-Jean and I've had some lessons in Paris and singing too with the money which you sent me you kind boy and I can sing much better now and I've learned to dance not so well as Blanche and when you become a minister of state Blanche shall present me and with this and with a provoking good humor I will be the first to be asked Parisian curtsy Lady Rockminster came in whilst this curtsy was being performed and gave to Arthur one finger to shake which he took over which he bowed as well as he could which in truth was very clumsily so you're going to be married sir said the old lady scolded him Lady Rockminster for not telling us Laura said going away which in truth the old lady began instantly to do so you were going to marry and to go into Parliament so Francis Clevering I wanted him to give my grandson his seat why did he not give my grandson his seat I hope you are to have a great deal of money with Miss Emery I wouldn't take her without a great deal so Francis Clevering is tired of Parliament Penn said wincing and I rather wish to attempt that career the rest of the story is at least premature I wonder when you had Laura at home you could take up such an affected little creature as that the old lady continued I'm very sorry Miss Emery does not please your ladieship said Penn smiling you mean that it is no affair of mine and that I'm not going to marry her well I'm not and I'm very glad I'm not a little odys thing when I think that a man can prefer her to my Laura I've no patience with him and so I tell you Mr Arthur Pendenis I'm very glad you see Laura with such favorable eyes Penn said you are very glad and you are very sorry what does it matter sir whether you are very glad or very sorry a young man who prefers Miss Emery to Miss Bell has no business to be sorry or glad a young man who takes up with such a crooked lump of effectation as that little Emery for she is crooked I tell you she is after seeing my Laura has no right to hold up his head again where's your friend Bluebeard the tall young man I mean Warrington isn't his name why does he not come down and marry Laura what do the young men mean by not marrying such a girl as that they all marry for money now you are all selfish and cowards we ran away with each other made foolish matches in my time I have no patience with the young men when I was at Paris in the winter I asked all about three attachés at the embassy why they did not fall in love with Miss Bell they laughed they said they wanted money you are all selfish you are all cowards I hope before you offered Miss Bell to the attachés said pen with some heat you did her the favor to consult her Miss Bell has only a little money Miss Bell must marry soon somebody must make a match for her sir and a girl can't offer herself said the old allergy with great state Laura my dear I've been telling your cousin that all the young men are selfish that there is not a penny worth of romance left among them he is as bad as the rest have you been asking Arthur why he won't marry me said Laura with a kindly smile coming back and taking her cousin's hand she had been away perhaps to hide some traces of emotion which she did not wish others to see he is going to marry somebody else and I intend to be very fond of her and to go and live with them provided he then does not ask every bachelor who comes to his house why he does not marry me the terrors appends conscience being thus appeased and his examination before Laura over without any reproaches on the part of the latter then began to find that his duty and inclination led him constantly to Baymouth where Lady Rockminster informed him that a place was always reserved for him at her table and I recommend you to come often the old lady said for a grand genre is an excellent cook and to be with Laura and me will do your manners good it is easy to see that you are always thinking about yourself don't blush and stammer almost all men are always thinking about themselves my sons and grandsons always were until I cured them come here and let us teach you to behave properly you will not have to carve that is done at the side table Hacker will give you as much wine as is good for you and on days when you are very good and amusing you shall have some champagne Hacker mind what I say Mr. Pendinus is Miss Laura's brother and you won't make him comfortable and see that he does not have too much wine or disturb me whilst I am taking my nap after dinner you are selfish I intend to cure you of being selfish you will down here when you have no other engagements and if it rains you had better put up at the hotel as long as the good lady could order everybody around about her she was not hard to please and all the slaves and subjects of her little dowager court tremble before her but loved her she did not receive a very numerous or brilliant society the doctor of course was admitted as a constant and faithful visitor the vicar and his cure and on public days the vicar's wife and daughters and some of the seasoned visitors at Baymont were received at the old ladies entertainments but generally the company was a small one and Mr. Arthur drank his wine by himself when Lady Rockminster retired to take her dose and to be played and sung to sleep by Laura after dinner if my music can give her a nap said the good nature of the girl ought not to be very glad that it can do so much good Lady Rockminster sleeps very little of nights and I used to read to her until I felt ill at Paris since when she was not here of my sitting up why did you not write to me when you were ill as pen with a blush what good could you do me I had Martha to nurse me and the doctor every day you were too busy to write to women or to think about them you have your books and your newspapers and your politics rare roads to occupy you I wrote when I was well and pen looked at her and blushed again as he remembered that during all the time of her illness he had never written to her and a scarcely thought about her in consequence of his relationship pen was free to walk and ride with his cousin constantly and in the course of those walks and rides could appreciate the sweet frankness of her disposition and the true simplicity and kindness of her fair and spotless heart in their mother's lifetime she had never spoken so openly or so cordially as now the desire of poor Helen to make an union between her two children had caused a reserve on Laura's part towards pen for which under the altered circumstances of Arthur's life there was now no necessity he was engaged to another woman and Laura became his sister at once hiding or banishing from herself any doubts which she might have as to his striving to look cheerfully forward and hope for his prosperity promising herself to do all that affection might do to make her mother's darling happy their talk was often about the departed mother and it was from a thousand stories which Laura told him that Arthur was made aware how constant and absorbing that silent maternal devotion had been which had accompanied him present and absent through life and it only ended with the fond widow's breath one day the people in Clevering saw a lad in charge of a couple of horses at the church or gate and he was told over the place that Penn and Laura had visited Helen's grave together since Arthur had come down into the country he had been there once or twice but the sight of the sacred stone had brought no consolation to him a guilty man doing a guilty deed a mere speculator content to lay down his faith and honor for a 14 worldly career and owning that his life was but a contemptible surrender what right had he in the holy place what booted it to him in the world he lived in that others were no better than himself Arthur and Laura rowed by the gates of Fair Oaks and he shook hands with his tenants children playing on the lawn in the terrace Laura looked steadily at the cottage wall at the creeper on the porch and the magnolia growing up to her window Mr. Penn Dennis rowed by today one of the boys told his mother he stopped and talked to us and he asked for a bit of honey suckle off the porch and gave it the lady I couldn't see if she was pretty she had her veil down she was riding one of cramps horses out of Bayman as they rode over the downs between home and Bayman Penn did not speak much though they rode very close together he was thinking what a mockery life was and how men refuse happiness when they may have it or having it kick it down or barter it with their eyes open worthless money or a beggarly honor and then the thought came what does it matter for the little space the lives of the best and purest of us are consumed in a vain desire and end in a disappointment as the dear souls who sleeps in her grave yonder she had her selfish ambition as much as Caesar had and died balked to her life's longing the stone covers over our hopes and our memories our place knows us not other people's children are playing the grass he broke out in a hard voice where you and I used to play lore and you see how the magnolia we planted has grown up since our time I've been around to one or two of the cottages where my mother used to visit it is scarcely more than a year that she has gone and the people whom she used to benefit care no more for her death than for Queen Anne's we are all selfish the world is selfish there are but a few exceptions like you my dear to shine like good deeds in a naughty world make the blackness more dismal I wish you would not speak in that way Arthur said lore looking down and bending her head to the honeysuckle on her breast when you told the little boy to give me this you were not selfish a pretty sacrifice I made to get it for you said the sneer but your heart was kind and full of love when you did so one cannot ask for more than love and kindness and if you think humbly of yourself Arthur the love and kindness are diminished are they I often thought our dearest mother spoiled you at home by worshiping you and that if you are I hate the word what you say her too great honest hope to make you so and as for the world women go out into it I suppose they cannot be otherwise than selfish you have to fight for yourself and to get on for yourself and to make a name for yourself mama and your uncle both encouraged you in this ambition if it is a vain thing why pursue it I suppose such a clever man as you intend to do a great deal of good to the country by going into parliament or you would not wish to be there what are you going to do when you are in the House of Commons women don't understand about politics my dear Penn said sneering at himself as he spoke but why don't you make us understand I could never tell about Mr. Pincent why he should like to be there so much he is not a clever man he certainly is not a genius Penn said Penn Lady Diana says that he attends committees all day but then again he is at the house all night that he always votes as he is told that he never speaks that he will never get on beyond a subordinate place and as his grandmother tells him he is choked with red tape are you going to follow the same career Arthur what is there in it so brilliant that you should be so eager for it I would rather that you should stop at home and write books good books kind books with gentle kind thoughts such as you have dear Arthur and such as might do people good to read and if you do not win fame what then you own it is vanity and you can live very happily without it I must not pretend to advise but I take you at your own word about the world and as you own it is wicked and that it tires you ask you why you don't leave it and what would you have me do ask Arthur I would have you bring your wife to Fair Oaks to live there and study and do good round about you I would like to see your own children playing on the lawn Arthur and that we might pray in our mother's church again once more dear brother if the world is a temptation are we not told to pray that we may not be led into it do you think Blanche would make a good wife for a petty country gentleman do you think I should become the character very well Laura Penn asked remember temptation walks about the hedge rose as well as the city streets and idleness is the greatest tempter of all what is does Mr. Warrington say said Laura as a blush mounted up to her cheek and of which Penn saw the fervor though Laura's veil fell over her face to hide it Penn rode on by Laura's side silently for a while George's name so mentioned brought back the past to him and the thoughts which he had once had regarding George and Laura why should the recurrence of the thought of the union now that he knew the union was impossible why should he be curious to know if during the months of their intimacy Laura had felt a regard for Warrington from that day until the present time George had never alluded to his story and Arthur remembered now that since then George had scarcely ever mentioned Laura's name at last he came close to her tell me something law he said she put back her veil and looked at him what is it Arthur she asked though on the tremor of her voice she guessed very well tell me but for George's misfortune I never knew him speak of it before or since that day would you would you have given him what you refuse me yes Penn she said bursting into twos he deserved you better than I did poor Arthur groan forth with an indescribable pang at his heart I am better selfish wretch and George is better nobler truer than I am God bless him yes Penn said Laura reaching out her hand to her cousin and he put his arm round her and for a moment she sobbed on his shoulder the gentle girl had had her secret and told it in the widow's last journey from Fair Oaks when hastening with her mother to Arthur's sick bed Laura had made a different confession and it was only when Warrington told his own story and described the hopeless condition of his life that she discovered how much her feelings had changed what tender sympathy with what great respect delight and admiration she had grown to regard her cousin's friend until she knew that some plans she might have dreamed of were impossible and that Warrington reading in her heart perhaps had told his melancholy story to warn her she had not asked herself whether it was possible that her affections could change and had been shocked and seared by the discovery of the truth how should she have told it to Helen and confessed her shame poor Laura felt guilty before her friend with a secret which she dared not confide to her felt as if she had been ungrateful for Helen's love in regard felt as if she had been wickedly faithless to pen in withdrawing that love from him which she did not even care to accept humbled even and repentant before Warrington lest she should have encouraged him by undue sympathy or shown the preference which she began to feel the catastrophe which broke up Laura's home and the grief and anguish which she felt for her mother's death gave her little leisure for thoughts more selfish and by the time she rallied from that grief the minor one was also almost cured it was but for a moment that she had indulged the hope about Warrington her admiration and respect for him remained as strong as ever but the tender feeling with which she knew she had regarded him was schooled into such calmness that it may be said to have been dead and passed away the pain which it left behind was one of humility and remorse oh how wicked and proud I was about Arthur she thought how self-confident and unforgiving I never forgave from my heart this poor girl who was fond of him or him for encouraging her love and I've been more guilty than she poor little artless creature I professing to love one man could listen to another only too eagerly it would not pardon the change of feelings and Arthur whilst I myself was changing and unfaithful and so humiliating herself and acknowledging her weakness the poor girl sought for strength and refuge in the manner in which she had been accustomed to look for them she had done no wrong but there are some folks who suffer for a fault ever so trifling as much as others whose stout consciences can walk under crimes of almost any weight and poor Laura chose to fancy that she had acted in this delicate juncture of her life as a very great criminal she determined that she had done panigrate injury but with growing that love which privately in her mother's hearing she had bestowed upon him that she had been ungrateful to her dead benefactors by ever allowing herself to think of another or violating her promise and that considering her own enormous crime she ought to be very gentle in judging those of others whose temptations were much greater very likely in whose motives she could not understand a year back Laura would have been indignant at the idea that Arthur should marry Blanche and her high spirit would have risen as she thought that from worldly motives he should stoop to one so unworthy now when the news was brought to her of such a chance the intelligence was given to her by old lady Rockminster whose speeches were as direct and rapid as a slap on the face the humble girl winced a little at the blow but bore it meekly desperate acquiescence he has a right to marry he knows a great deal more of the world than I do she argued with herself Blanche may not be so like minded as she seemed and who am I to be her judge I dare say it is very good that Arthur should go into parliament and distinguish himself and my duty is to do everything that lies in my power to aid him and Blanche and to make his home happy I dare say I shall live with them if I am godmother to one of their children my three thousand pounds and forth with she began to think what she could give Blanche out of her small treasures and how best to conciliate her affection she wrote her forth with a kind letter in which of course no mention was made of the plans in contemplation but in which Laura recalled old times and spoke her goodwill and in reply to this she received an eager answer from Blanche in which not a word about marriage was said to be sure when Mr. Pendinus was mentioned two or three times and they were to be henceforth dearest Laura and dearest Blanche and loving sisters and so forth when Penn and Laura reached home after Laura's confession, Penn's noble acknowledgement of his own inferiority and generous expression of love for Warrington causing the girls' heart to throb and rendering doubly keen those tears which she sobbed on his shoulder a little slim letter was awaiting the spell in the hall which she trembled rather guiltily as she unsealed in which pen blushed as he saw instantly that he was from Blanche Laura opened it hastily cast her eyes quickly over as Penn kept his fixed on her blush and she dates from London Laura said she has been with old Bonner, Lady Cleverine's maid Bonner's going to marry Lightfoot the butler where do you think Blanche has been she cried out eagerly to Paris to Scotland to the casino to Chevrazine to see Fanny but Fanny wasn't there and Blanche is going to leave a present for her isn't it kind of more unthoughtful and she handed the letter to Penn who read I saw Madame Meir who was scrubbing the room and looked at me with very scrubby looks but La Belle Fanny was not oh loges and as I heard that she was in Captain Strong's apartments Bonner and I mounted oh toisien to see this famous beauty another disappointment only the Chevalier strong and a friend that is in the room so we came away after all without seeing the Fanny when will that horrid canvas sing be over sleeves are worn etc etc etc after dinner the doctor was reading the times a young gentleman I attended when he was here some eight or nine years ago has come into a fine fortune the doctor said I see her announce the death of John Henry Foker Esquire along Wood Hall at Powell in the Pyrenees 19 last month end of chapter 67