ll cut down; and
where the place in the wood was where old Lord Lynx discovered Sir
Phelim O'Neal on his knees before her ladyship, etc. etc.; he called
the lodge-keepers and gardeners by their names; he knew the number of
domestics that sat down in the housekeeper's room, and how many dined
in the servants'-hall; he had a word for everybody, and about everybody,
and a little against everybody. He was invaluable in a country-house, in
a word: and richly merited and enjoyed his vacation after his labours.
And perhaps whilst he was thus deservedly enjoying himself with his
country friends, the Major was not ill pleased at transferring to
Warrington the command of the family expedition to the Continent, and
thus perforce keeping him in the service of the ladies,--a servitude
which George was only too willing to undergo, for his friend's sake, and
for that of a society which he found daily more delightful. Warrington
was a good German scholar, and was willing to give Miss Laura lessons in
the language, who was very glad to improve herself, though Pen, for his
part, was too weak or lazy now to resume his German studies. Warrington
acted as courier and interpreter; Warrington saw the baggage in and out
of ships, inns and carriages, managed the money matters, and put the
little troop into marching order. Warrington found out where the English
church was, and, if Mrs. Pendennis and Miss Laura were inclined to go
thither, walked with great decorum along with them. Warrington walked
by Mrs. Pendennis's donkey, when that lady went out on her evening
excursions; or took carriages for her; or got 'Galignani' for her; or
devised comfortable seats under the lime-trees for her, when the guests
paraded after dinner, and the Kursaal band at the bath, where our tired
friends stopped, performed their pleasant music under the trees. Many
a fine whiskered Prussian or French dandy, come to the bath for the
'Trente-et-quarante,' cast glances of longing towards the pretty
fresh-coloured English girl who accompanied the pale widow, and would
have longed to take a turn with her at the galop or the waltz. But
Laura did not appear in the ballroom, except once or twice, when Pen
vouchsafed to walk with her; and as for Warrington, that rough diamond
had not had the polish of a dancing-master, and he did not know how to
waltz,--though he would have liked to learn, if he could have had such a
partner as Laura.--Such a partner! psha, what had a stiff bach