she accomplished?" He was obliged to own, no. "Was she clever?" Well, she
had a very good average intellect: but he could not absolutely say she
was clever. "Come, let us see some of her letters." So Pen confessed that
he had but those three of which we have made mention--and that they were
but trivial invitations or answers.

"She is cautious enough," the Major said, drily. "She is older than you,
my poor boy;" and then he apologised with the utmost frankness and
humility, and flung himself upon Pen's good feelings, begging the lad to
excuse a fond old uncle, who had only his family's honour in view--for
Arthur was ready to flame up in indignation whenever Miss Costigan's
honesty was doubted, and swore that he would never have her name
mentioned lightly, and never, never would part from her.

He repeated this to his uncle and his friends at home, and also, it must
be confessed, to Miss Fotheringay and the amiable family, at Chatteris,
with whom he still continued to spend some portion of his time. Miss
Emily was alarmed when she heard of the arrival of Pen's guardian, and
rightly conceived that the Major came down with hostile intentions to
herself. "I suppose ye intend to leave me, now your grand relation has
come down from town. He'll carry ye off, and you'll forget your poor
Emily, Mr. Arthur!"

Forget her! In her presence, in that of Miss Rouncy, the Columbine and
Milly's confidential friend of the Company, in the presence of the
Captain himself, Pen swore he never could think of any other woman but
his beloved Miss Fotheringay; and the Captain, looking up at his foils
which were hung as a trophy on the wall of the room where Pen and he used
to fence, grimly said, he would not advoise any man to meddle rashly with
the affections of his darling child; and would never believe his gallant