But Helen Pendennis, when this point was proposed to her by her son, put
on a face full of terror and alarm. She said she "did not quarrel with
others who thought differently, but that in her opinion a Christian had
no right to make the army a profession. Mr. Pendennis never, never would
have permitted his son to be a soldier. Finally, she should be very
unhappy if he thought of it." Now Pen would have as soon cut off his nose
and ears as deliberately, and of aforethought malice, made his mother
unhappy; and, as he was of such a generous disposition that he would give
away anything to any one, he instantly made a present of his visionary
red coat and epaulettes and his ardour for military glory to his mother.

She thought him the noblest creature in the world. But Major Pendennis,
when the offer of the commission was acknowledged and refused, wrote back
a curt and somewhat angry letter to the widow, and thought his nephew was
rather a spooney.

He was contented, however, when he saw the boy's performances out hunting
at Christmas, when the Major came down as usual to Fairoaks. Pen had a
very good mare, and rode her with uncommon pluck and grace. He took his
fences with great coolness, and yet with judgment, and without bravado.
He wrote to the chaps at school about his top-boots, and his feats across
country. He began to think seriously of a scarlet coat: and his mother
must own that she thought it would become him remarkably well; though, of
course, she passed hours of anguish during his absence, and daily
expected to see him brought home on a shutter.

With these amusements, in rather too great plenty, it must not be
assumed that Pen neglected his studies altogether. He had a natural taste
for reading every possible kind of book which did not fall into his
school-course. It was only when they forced his head into the waters of