t; and
the best houses in London must open before a young lady who has such
talents, and, allow an old fellow to say, Miss Amory, such a face."

Blanche was as much astonished by these compliments as Pen was, to whom
his uncle, a little time since, had been speaking in very disparaging
terms of the Sylph. The Major and the two young men walked home
together, after Mr. Foker had placed his mother in her carriage, and
procured a light for an enormous cigar.

The young gentleman's company or his tobacco did not appear to be
agreeable to Major Pendennis, who eyed him askance several times, and
with a look which plainly indicated that he wished Mr. Foker would take
his leave; but Foker hung on resolutely to the uncle and nephew, even
until they came to the former's door in Bury Street, where the Major
wished the lads good night.

"And I say, Pen," he said in a confidential whisper, calling his nephew
back, "mind you make a point of calling in Grosvenor Place to-morrow.
They've been uncommonly civil; mons'ously civil and kind."

Pen promised and wondered, and the Major's door having been closed upon
him by Morgan, Foker took Pen's arm, and walked with him for some time
silently puffing his cigar. At last, when they had reached Charing Cross
on Arthur's way home to the Temple, Harry Foker relieved himself, and
broke out with that eulogium upon poetry, and those regrets regarding a
misspent youth which have just been mentioned. And all the way along
the Strand, and up to the door of Pen's very staircase, in Lamb Court,
Temple, young Harry Foker did not cease to speak about singing and
Blanche Amory.

CHAPTER XL. Relates to Mr. Harry Foker's Affairs

Since that fatal but delightful night in Grosvenor Place, Mr. Harry
Foker's heart had been in such a state of agitation as you would hardly
have thought so great a philosopher could endure. When we remember what
good advice he had given to Pen in former days, how an early wisdom and
knowledge of the world had manifested itself in this gifted youth; how
a constant course of self-indulgence, such as becomes a gentleman of his
means and expectations, ought by right to have increased his cynicism,
and made him, with every succeeding day of his life, care less and less
for every individual in the world, with the single exception of Mr.
Harry Foker, one may wonder that he should fall into the mishap to which
most of us are subject once or twice in our lives, and disquiet his