Perhaps if he had had an early love-passage, she too had one day hoped
for a different lot than to be wedded to a little gentleman who rapped
his teeth and smiled artificially, who was laboriously polite to the
butler as he slid upstairs into the drawing-room, and profusely civil to
the lady's-maid, who waited at the bed-room door; for whom her old
patroness used to ring as for a servant, and who came with even more
eagerness; who got up stories, as he sent in draughts, for his patient's
amusement and his own profit: perhaps she would have chosen a different
man--but she knew, on the other hand, how worthy Pendennis was, how
prudent, how honourable; how good he had been to his mother, and constant
in his care of her; and the upshot of this interview was, that she,
blushing very much, made Pendennis an extremely low curtsey, and asked
leave to--to consider his very kind proposal.

They were married in the dull Bath season, which was the height of the
season in London. And Pendennis having previously, through a professional
friend, M.R.C.S., secured lodgings in Holles Street, Cavendish Square,
took his wife thither in a chaise and pair; conducted her to the
theatres, the Parks, and the Chapel Royal; showed her the folks going to
a drawing-room, and, in a word, gave her all the pleasures of the town.
He likewise left cards upon Lord Pontypool, upon the Right Honourable the
Earl of Bareacres, and upon Sir Pepin and Lady Ribstone, his earliest and
kindest patrons. Bareacres took no notice of the cards. Pontypool called,
admired Mrs. Pendennis, and said Lady Pontypool would come and see her,
which her ladyship did, per proxy of John her footman, who brought her
card, and an invitation to a concert five weeks off. Pendennis was back
in his little one-horse carriage, dispensing draughts and pills at that
time: but the Ribstones asked him and Mrs. Pendennis to an entertainment,
of which Mr. Pendennis bragged to the last day of his life.