He seemed to be about to speak, when, from Pen's neighboring room Helen entered, looking at them as the candle which she held lighted her pale frightened face. Laura blushed more red than ever and withdrew her hand. "What is it?" Helen asked. "It's a bargain we have been making, my dear creature," said the Major in his most caressing voice. "We have just bound over Mr. Warrington in a promise to come abroad with us." "Indeed!" Helen said. CHAPTER IV. IN WHICH FANNY ENGAGES A NEW MEDICAL MAN. COULD Helen have suspected that, with Pen's returning strength, his unhappy partiality for little Fanny would also reawaken ? Though she never spoke a word regarding that young person, after her conversation with the Major, and though, to all appearance, she utterly ignored Fanny's existence, yet Mrs. Pendennis kept a particularly close watch upon all Master Arthur's actions; on the plea of ill-health, would scarcely let him out of her sight; and was especially anxious that he should be spared the trouble of all correspondence for the present at least. Very likely Arthur looked at his own letters with some tremor; very likely, as he received them at the family table, feeling his mother's watch upon him (though the good soul's eye seemed fixed upon her tea-cup or her book), he expected daily to see a little handwriting, which he would have known, though he had never seen it yet, and his heart beat as he received the letters to his address. Was he more pleased or annoyed, that, day after day, his expectations were not realized; and was his mind relieved, that there came no letter from Fanny? Though, no doubt, in these matters, when Lovelace is tired of Clarissa (or the contrary), it is best for both parties to break at once, and each, after the failure of the attempt at union, to go his own way, and pursue his course through life solitary; yet our self-love, or our pity, or our sense of decency, does not like that sudden bankruptcy. Before we announce to the world that our firm of Lovelace and Co. can't meet its engagements, we try to make compromises; we have mournful meetings of partners: we delay the putting up of the shutters, and the dreary announcement of the failure. It must come but we pawn our jewels to keep things going a little longer. On the whole, I dare say, Pen was rather annoyed that he had no remonstrances from Fanny. What! could she part from him, and never so much as once look round? could she sink, and never once hold a little hand out, or cry, "Help, Arthur!" Well, well: they don't all go down who venture on that voyage. Some few drown when the vessel founders; but most are only ducked, and scramble to shore. And the reader's experience of A. Pendennis, Esquire, of the Upper Temple, will enable him to state whether that gentleman belonged to the class of persons who were likely to sink or to swim. Though Pen was as yet too weak to walk half a mile; and might not, on account of his precious health, be trusted to take a drive in a carriage by himself, and without a nurse in attendance; yet Helen could not keep watch over Mr. Warrington too, and had no authority to prevent that gentleman from going to London if business called him thither. Indeed, if he had gone and stayed, perhaps the widow, from reasons of her own, would have been glad; but she checked these selfish wishes as soon as she ascertained or owned them; and, remembering Warrington's great regard and services, and constant friendship for her boy, received him as a member of her family almost, with her usual melancholy kindness and submissive acquiescence. Yet somehow, one IN WHICH FANNY COULD Helen hav turning strength, hi Fanny would also re spoke a word regardin conversation with the pearance, she utterly ig Mrs. Pendennis kept a p all Master Arthur's actio would scarcely let him ou pecially anxious that he sl of all correspondence for t likely Arthur looked at h tremor; very likely, as he re table, feeling his mother's w the good soul's eye seemed fi her book), he expected daily writing, which he would have never seen it yet, and his hea the letters to his address. Wa annoyed, that, day after day, h not realized; and was his mind. came no letter from Fanny? T these matters, when Lovelace is ti the contrary), it is best for both p once, and each, after the failure o union, to go his own way, and p through life solitary; yet our self-lov inst which he struck as a boy- Mr. Huxter, in writing home mentioned that there was a of which he was an attene in the habit of meeting ion, who, amongst other ance regarding Penderhad transmitted to other than the Back Saint Bartholomew 1, the peculiarities ition, and general ung gentlemen of nightly eno had a fine whether it in a dungissuing s who |