se to see what was going on; or did not
care to prevent, or actually encouraged, it. She remembered his often
having said that he could not understand how a man proposed to a woman
twice. She was in torture--at secret feud with her son, of all objects
in the world the dearest to her--in doubt, which she dared not express
to herself, about Laura--averse to Warrington, the good and generous. No
wonder that the healing waters of Rosenbad did not do her good, or that
Doctor von Glauber, the bath physician, when he came to visit her, found
that the poor lady made no progress to recovery. Meanwhile Pen got
well rapidly; slept with immense perseverance twelve hours out of the
twenty-four; ate huge meals; and, at the end of a couple of months, had
almost got back the bodily strength and weight which he had possessed
before his illness.

After they had passed some fifteen days at their place of rest and
refreshment, a letter came from Major Pendennis announcing his speedy
arrival at Rosenbad, and, soon after the letter, the Major himself made
his appearance accompanied by Morgan his faithful valet, without whom
the old gentleman could not move. When the Major travelled he wore a
jaunty and juvenile travelling costume; to see his back still you
would have taken him for one of the young fellows whose slim waist and
youthful appearance Warrington was beginning to envy. It was not until
the worthy man began to move, that the observer remarked that Time had
weakened his ancient knees, and had unkindly interfered to impede
the action of the natty little varnished boots in which the gay old
traveller still pinched his toes. There were magnates both of our own
country and of foreign nations present that autumn at Rosenbad. The
elder Pendennis read over the strangers' list with great gratification
on the night of his arrival, was pleased to find several of his
acquaintances among the great folks, and would have the honour of
presenting his nephew to a German Grand Duchess, a Russian Princess, and
an English Marquis, before many days were over: nor was Pen by any means
averse to making the acquaintance of these great personages, having a
liking for polite life, and all the splendours and amenities belonging
to it. That very evening the resolute old gentleman, leaning on his
nephew's arm, made his appearance in the halls of the Kursaal, and lost
or won a napoleon or two at the table of 'Trente-et-quarante.' He did
not play to lose, he said