ing off a
tumbler of wine or two at the buffet, he quitted Gaunt House for the
neighbourhood of Jermyn Street, where his friends Loder, Punter, little
Moss Abramns, and Captain Skewball were assembled at the familiar green
table. In the rattle of the box, and of their agreeable conversation,
Sir Francis's spirits rose to their accustomed point of feeble hilarity.

Mr. Pynsent, who had asked Miss Amory to dance, came up on one occasion
to claim her hand, but scowls of recognition having already passed
between him and Mr. Arthur Pendennis in the dancing-room, Arthur
suddenly rose up and claimed Miss Amory as his partner for the present
dance, on which Mr. Pynsent, biting his lips and scowling yet more
savagely, withdrew with a profound bow, saying that he gave up his
claim. There are some men who are always falling in one's way in life.
Pynsent and Pen had this view of each other; and each regarded other
accordingly.

"What a confounded conceited provincial fool that is!" thought the one.
"Because he has written a twopenny novel, his absurd head is turned, and
a kicking would take his conceit out of him."

"What an impertinent idiot that man is!" remarked the other to his
partner. "His soul is in Downing Street; his neckcloth is foolscap; his
hair is sand; his legs are rulers; his vitals are tape and sealing-wax;
he was a prig in his cradle; and never laughed since he was born, except
three times at the same joke of his chief. I have the same liking for
that man, Miss Amory, I have for that cold boiled veal." Upon which
Blanche of course remarked, that Mr. Pendennis was wicked, mechant,
perfectly abominable, and wondered what he would say when her back was
turned.

"Say!--Say that you have the most beautiful figure, and the slimmest
waist in the world, Blanche--Miss Amory, I mean. I beg your pardon.
Another turn; this music would make an alderman dance."

"And you have left off tumbling when you waltz now?" Blanche asked,
archly looking up at her partner's face.

"One falls and one gets up again in life, Blanche; you know I used to
call you so in old times, and it is the prettiest name in the world.
Besides, I have practised since then."

"And with a great number of partners, I'm afraid," Blanche said, with a
little sham sigh, and a shrug of the shoulders. And so in truth Mr. Pen
had practised a good deal in this life; and had undoubtedly arrived at
being able to dance better.

If Pendennis was impertinent in hi