It sent them with great good-humour into Mrs. Pendennis's drawing-room.
She was pleased to hear them laughing in the hall as they crossed it.

"You sly rascal!" said the Major, putting his arm gaily on Pen's
shoulder, and giving a playful push at the boy's breast-pocket. He felt
the papers crackling there sure enough. The young fellow was delighted--
conceited--triumphant--and in one word, a spoony.

The pair came to the tea-table in the highest spirits. The Major's
politeness was beyond expression. He had never tasted such good tea, and
such bread was only to be had in the country. He asked Mrs. Pendennis for
one of her charming songs. He then made Pen sing, and was delighted and
astonished at the beauty of the boy's voice: he made his nephew fetch his
maps and drawings, and praised them as really remarkable works of talent
in a young fellow: he complimented him on his French pronunciation: he
flattered the simple boy as adroitly as ever lover flattered a mistress:
and when bedtime came, mother and son went to their several rooms
perfectly enchanted with the kind Major.

When they had reached those apartments, I suppose Helen took to her knees
as usual: and Pen read over his letters before going to bed: just as if
he didn't know every word of them by heart already. In truth there were
but three of those documents and to learn their contents required no
great effort of memory.

In No. 1, Miss Fotheringay presents grateful compliments to Mr.
Pendennis, and in her papa's name and her own begs to thank him for his
most beautiful presents. They will always be kept carefully; and Miss F.
and Captain C. will never forget the delightful evening which they passed