her poor old father, poor old Jack Costigan."--The Captain suited the
action to the word, and his bloodshot eyes were suffused with water, as
he addressed the Major.

"Your sentiments do you honour," the other said. "But, Captain Costigan,
I can't help smiling at one thing you have just said."

"And what's that, sir?" asked Jack, who was at a too heroic and
sentimental pitch to descend from it. You were speaking about our
splendid mansion--my sister's house, I mean.

"I mane the park and mansion of Arthur Pendennis, Esquire, of Fairoaks
Park, whom I hope to see a Mimber of Parliament for his native town of
Clavering, when he is of ege to take that responsible stetion," cried the
Captain with much dignity.

The Major smiled as he recognised a shaft of his own bow. It was he who
had set Pen upon the idea of sitting in Parliament for the neighbouring
borough--and the poor lad had evidently been bragging on the subject to
Costigan and the lady of his affections. "Fairoaks Park, my dear sir," he
said. "Do you know our history? We are of excessively ancient family
certainly, but I began life with scarce enough money to purchase my
commission, and my eldest brother was a country apothecary: who made
every shilling he died possessed of out of his pestle and mortar."

"I have consented to waive that objection, sir," said Costigan
majestically, "in consideration of the known respectability of your
family."

"Curse your impudence," thought the Major; but he only smiled and bowed.