were there in waiting. The doctor and the lawyer from Clavering, who had
seen the chaise pass through, came up in a gig half an hour after the
Major's arrival, and entered by the back door. The former gave a detailed
account of the seizure and demise of Mr. Pendennis, enlarged on his
virtues and the estimation in which the neighbourhood held him; on what a
loss he would be to the magistrates' bench, the County Hospital, etc.
Mrs. Pendennis bore up wonderfully, he said, especially since Master
Arthur's arrival. The lawyer stayed and dined with Major Pendennis, and
they talked business all the evening. The Major was his brother's
executor, and joint guardian to the boy with Mrs. Pendennis. Everything
was left unreservedly to her, except in case of a second marriage,--an
occasion which might offer itself in the case of so young and handsome a
woman, Mr. Tatham gallantly said, when different provisions were enacted
by the deceased. The Major would of course take entire superintendence of
everything under this most impressive and melancholy occasion. Aware of
this authority, old John the footman, when he brought Major Pendennis the
candle to go to bed, followed afterwards with the plate-basket; and the
next morning brought him the key of the hall clock--the Squire always
used to wind it up of a Thursday, John said. Mrs. Pendennis's maid
brought him messages from her mistress. She confirmed the doctor's
report, of the comfort which Master Arthur's arrival had caused to his
mother.

What passed between that lady and the boy is not of import. A veil should
be thrown over those sacred emotions of love and grief. The maternal
passion is a sacred mystery to me. What one sees symbolised in the Roman
churches in the image of the Virgin Mother with a bosom bleeding with
love, I think one may witness (and admire the Almighty bounty for) every
day. I saw a Jewish lady, only yesterday, with a child at her knee, and
from whose face towards the child there shone a sweetness so angelical,