unders and talk, and murdered the king's English with the utmost
liveliness and good-humour.

"Begad, she is not such a bad woman!" the Major thought within himself.
"She is not refined, certainly, and calls 'Apollo' 'Apoller;' but she
has some heart, and I like that sort of thing, and a devilish deal of
money, too. Three stars in India Stock to her name, begad! which that
young cub is to have--is he?" And he thought how he should like to see a
little of the money transferred to Miss Blanche, and, better still, one
of those stars shining in the name of Mr. Arthur Pendennis.

Still bent upon pursuing his schemes, whatsoever they might be, the
old negotiator took the privilege of his intimacy and age, to talk in
a kindly and fatherly manner to Miss Blanche, when he found occasion to
see her alone. He came in so frequently at luncheon-time, and became
so familiar with the ladies, that they did not even hesitate to quarrel
before him; and Lady Clavering, whose tongue was loud, and temper
brusque, had many a battle with the Sylphide in the family friend's
presence. Blanche's wit seldom failed to have the mastery in these
encounters, and the keen barbs of her arrows drove her adversary
discomfited away. "I am an old fellow," the Major said; "I have nothing
to do in life. I have my eyes open. I keep good counsel. I am the friend
of both of you; and if you choose to quarrel before me, why, I shan't
tell any one. But you are two good people, and I intend to make it up
between you. I have between lots of people--husbands and wives, fathers
and sons, daughters and mammas, before this. I like it; I've nothing
else to do."

One day, then, the old diplomatist entered Lady Clavering's
drawing-room, just as the latter quitted it, evidently in a high state
of indignation, and ran past him up the stairs to her own apartments.
"She couldn't speak to him now," she said; "she was a great deal too
angry with that--that--that little, wicked"--anger choked the rest of
the words, or prevented their utterance until Lady Clavering had passed
out of hearing.

"My dear, good Miss Amory," the Major said, entering the drawing-room,
"I see what is happening. You and mamma have been disagreeing. Mothers
and daughters disagree in the best families. It was but last week that
I healed up a quarrel between Lady Clapperton and her daughter Lady
Claudia. Lady Lear and her eldest daughter have not spoken for fourteen
years. Kinder and more worthy people t