himself; "your snatches of song reminded me of Mrs. Jordan in her best
time, when we were young men, Captain Costigan; and your manner reminded
me of Mars. Did you ever see the Mars, Miss Fotheringay?"

"There was two Mahers in Crow Street," remarked Miss Emily; "Fanny was
well enough, but Biddy was no great things."

"Sure, the Major means the god of war, Milly, my dear," interposed the
parent.

"It is not that Mars I meant, though Venus, I suppose, may be pardoned
for thinking about him," the Major replied with a smile directed in full
to Sir Derby Oaks, who now re-entered in his shell-jacket; but the lady
did not understand the words of which he made use, nor did the compliment
at all pacify Sir Derby, who, probably, did not understand it either, and
at any rate received it with great sulkiness and stiffness, scowling
uneasily at Miss Fotheringay, with an expression which seemed to ask what
the deuce does this man here?

Major Pendennis was not in the least annoyed by the gentleman's
ill-humour. On the contrary, it delighted him. "So," thought he, "a rival
is in the field;" and he offered up vows that Sir Derby might be, not
only a rival, but a winner too, in this love-match in which he and Pen
were engaged.

"I fear I interrupted your fencing lesson; but my stay in Chatteris
is very short, and I was anxious to make myself known to my old
fellow-campaigner Captain Costigan, and to see a lady nearer who had
charmed me so much from the stage. I was not the only man epris last
night, Miss Fotheringay (if I must call you so, though your own family