.

Pen was rather curious about the bill-stamps, and concerning the
transactions in Strong's chambers. And he asked, when Altamont came and
joined the Chevalier, whether he too was out for bill-stamps, who he
was, whether he saw many people, and so forth. These questions, put
with considerable adroitness by Pen who was interested about Sir Francis
Clavering's doings from private motives of his own, were artlessly
answered by Mrs. Bolton, and to the utmost of her knowledge and ability,
which, in truth, were not very great.

These questions answered, and Pen being at a loss for more, luckily
recollected his privilege as a member of the Press, and asked the ladies
whether they would like any orders for the play? The play was their
delight, as it is almost always the delight of every theatrical person.
When Bolton was away professionally (it appeared that of late the porter
of Shepherd's Inn had taken a serious turn, drank a good deal, and
otherwise made himself unpleasant to the ladies of his family), they
would like of all things to slip out and go to the theatre--little
Barney, their son, keeping the lodge; and Mr. Pendennis's most generous
and most genteel compliment of orders was received with boundless
gratitude by both mother and daughter.

Fanny clapped her hands with pleasure: her faced beamed with it. She
looked and nodded, and laughed at har mamma, who nodded and laughed in
her turn. Mrs. Bolton was not superannuated for pleasure yet, or by
any means too old for admiration, she thought. And very likely
Mr. Pendennis, in his conversation with her, had insinuated some
compliments, or shaped his talk so as to please her. At first against
Pen, and suspicious of him, she was his partisan now, and almost as
enthusiastic about him as her daughter. When two women get together to
like a man, they help each other on--each pushes the other
forward--and the second, out of sheer sympathy, becomes as eager as the
principal:--at least, so it is said by philosophers who have examined
this science.

So the offer of the play-tickets, and other pleasantries; put all
parties into perfect good-humour, except for one brief moment, when one
of the younger children, hearing the name of 'Astley's' pronounced, came
forward and stated that she should like very much to go, too; on which,
Fanny said, "Don't bother!" rather sharply; and Mamma said, "Git-long,
Betsy-Jane, do now, and play in the court:" so that the two little ones,
namely