care for the view in front of his lawn windows or take any share in the
poetry and caresses which were taking place there.

They seldom occurred in his presence. However frisky they were before,
mother and child were hushed and quiet when Mr. Pendennis walked into the
drawing-room, his newspaper under his arm. And here, while little Pen,
buried in a great chair, read all the books of which he could lay hold,
the Squire perused his own articles in the 'Gardener's Gazette,' or took
a solemn hand at picquet with Mrs. Pendennis, or an occasional friend
from the village.

Pendennis usually took care that at least one of his grand dinners should
take place when his brother, the Major, who, on the return of his
regiment from India and New South Wales, had sold out and gone upon
half-pay, came to pay his biennial visit to Fairoaks. "My brother, Major
Pendennis," was a constant theme of the retired Doctor's conversation.
All the family delighted in my brother the Major. He was the link which
bound them to the great world of London, and the fashion. He always
brought down the last news of the nobility, and was in the constant habit
of dining with lords and great folks. He spoke of such with soldierlike
respect and decorum. He would say, "My Lord Bareacres has been good
enough to invite me to Bareacres for the pheasant shooting," or, "My Lord
Steyne is so kind as to wish for my presence at Stillbrook for the Easter
holidays;" and you may be sure the whereabouts of my brother the Major
was carefully made known by worthy Mr. Pendennis to his friends at the
Clavering Reading room, at Justice-meetings, or at the County-town. Their
carriages would come from ten miles round to call upon Major Pendennis in
his visits to Fairoaks; the fame of his fashion as a man about town was
established throughout the county. There was a talk of his marrying Miss
Hunkle, of Lilybank, old Hunkle the Attorney's daughter, with at least