certain drawl which he always adopted when he was most conceited and
fine.

"My dear creature," said he, in that his politest tone, "I think it
certainly as well that I came down, and I flatter myself that last botte
was a successful one. I tell you how I came to think of it. Three years
ago my kind friend Lady Ferrybridge sent for me in the greatest state of
alarm about her son Gretna, whose affair you remember, and implored me to
use my influence with the young gentleman, who was engaged in an affaire
de coeur with a Scotch clergyman's daughter, Miss MacToddy. I implored, I
entreated gentle measures. But Lord Ferrybridge was furious, and tried
the high hand. Gretna was sulky and silent, and his parents thought they
had conquered. But what was the fact, my dear creature? The young people
had been married for three months before Lord Ferrybridge knew anything
about it. And that was why I extracted the promise from Master Pen."

"Arthur would never have done so," Mrs. Pendennis said.

"He hasn't,--that is one comfort," answered the brother-in-law.

Like a wary and patient man of the world, Major Pendennis did not press
poor Pen any farther for the moment, but hoped the best from time, and
that the young fellow's eyes would be opened before long to see the
absurdity of which he was guilty. And having found out how keen the boy's
point of honour was, he worked kindly upon that kindly feeling with great
skill, discoursing him over their wine after dinner, and pointing out to
Pen the necessity of a perfect uprightness and openness in all his
dealings, and entreating that his communications with his interesting
young friend (as the Major politely called Miss Fotheringay) should be
carried on with the knowledge, if not approbation, of Mrs. Pendennis.