s little Fanny.

Meanwhile, Costigan had not the least idea but that his company was
perfectly welcome to Messrs. Pendennis and Bows, and that the visit
of the former was intended for himself. He expressed himself greatly
pleased with that mark of poloightness and promised, in his own mind,
that he would repay that obligation at least--which was not the only
debt which the Captain owed in life--by several visits to his young
friend. He entertained him affably with news of the day, or rather of
ten days previous; for Pen, in his quality of Journalist, remembered to
have seen some of the Captain's opinions in the Sporting and Theatrical
Newspaper, which was Costigan's oracle. He stated that Sir Charles and
Lady Mirabel were gone to Baden-Baden, and were most pressing in their
invitations that he should join them there. Pen replied with great
gravity, that he had heard that Baden was very pleasant, and the Grand
Duke exceedingly hospitable to English. Costigan answered, that the laws
of hospitalitee bekeam a Grand Juke; that he sariously would think about
visiting him; and made some remarks upon the splendid festivities at
Dublin Castle, when his Excellency the Earl of Portansherry held the
Viceraygal Coort there, and of which he, Costigan, had been a humble but
pleased spectator. And Pen--as he heard these oft-told well-remembered
legends--recollected the time when he had given a sort of credence to
them, and had a certain respect for the Captain. Emily and first love,
and the little room at Chatteris, and the kind talk with Bows on the
bridge, came back to him. He felt quite kindly disposed towards his two
old friends; and cordially shook the hands of both of them when he rose
to go away.

He had quite forgotten about little Fanny Bolton whilst the Captain was
talking, and Pen himself was absorbed in other selfish meditations. He
only remembered her again as Bows came hobbling down the stairs after
him, bent evidently upon following him out of Shepherd's Inn.

Mr. Bows's precaution was not a lucky one. The wrath of Mr. Arthur
Pendennis rose at the poor old fellow's feeble persecution. Confound
him, what does he mean by dogging me? thought Pen. And he burst out
laughing when he was in the Strand and by himself, as he thought of the
elder's stratagem. It was not an honest laugh, Arthur Pendennis. Perhaps
the thought struck Arthur himself, and he blushed at his own sense of
humour.

He went off to endeavour to banish th