in this; and then it must be remembered that the Major never for one
instant doubted that his views were the only views practicable, and that
his conduct was perfectly virtuous and respectable. He was a man of
honour, in a word: and had his eyes, what he called, open. He took pity
on this young greenhorn of a nephew, and wanted to open his eyes too.

No man, for instance, went more regularly to church when in the country
than the old bachelor. "It don't matter so much in town, Pen," he said,
"for there the women go and the men are not missed. But when a gentleman
is sur ses terres, he must give an example to the country people: and if
I could turn a tune, I even think I should sing. The Duke of Saint
David's, whom I have the honour of knowing, always sings in the country,
and let me tell you, it has a doosed fine effect from the family pew. And
you are somebody down here. As long as the Claverings are away you are
the first man in the parish: and as good as any. You might represent the
town if you played your cards well. Your poor dear father would have done
so had he lived; so might you.--Not if you marry a lady, however amiable,
whom the country people won't meet.--Well, well: it's a painful subject.
Let us change it, my boy." But if Major Pendennis changed the subject
once he recurred to it a score of times in the day: and the moral of his
discourse always was, that Pen was throwing himself away. Now it does not
require much coaxing or wheedling to make a simple boy believe that he is
a very fine fellow.

Pen took his uncle's counsels to heart. He was glad enough, we have said,
to listen to his elder's talk. The conversation of Captain Costigan
became by no means pleasant to him, and the idea of that tipsy old
father-in-law haunted him with terror. He couldn't bring that man,
unshaven and reeking of punch, to associate with his mother. Even about
Emily--he faltered when the pitiless guardian began to question him. "Was