e's, Hanover
Square--broken-hearted maid--and Sam Huxter was not the hero of that
story--poor Sam, who by this time had got out an exceedingly rank Cuba
cigar, and was smoking it under Fanny's little nose.

After that confounded prig Pendennis joined and left the party, the
sun was less bright to Sam Huxter, the sky less blue--the Sticks had no
attraction for him--the bitter beer hot and undrinkable--the world was
changed. He had a quantity of peas and a tin pea-shooter in the pocket
of the cab for amusement on the homeward route. He didn't take them out,
and forgot their existence until some other wag, on their return from
the races, fired a volley into Sam's sad face; upon which salute, after
a few oaths indicative of surprise, he burst into a savage and sardonic
laugh.

But Fanny was charming all the way home. She coaxed, and snuggled, and
smiled. She laughed pretty laughs; she admired everything; she took out
the darling little Jack-in-the-boxes, and was so obliged to Sam.
And when they got home, and Mr. Huxter, still with darkness on his
countenance, was taking a frigid leave of her--she burst into tears, and
said he was a naughty unkind thing.

Upon which, with a burst of emotion almost as emphatic as hers, the
young surgeon held the girl in his arms--swore that she was an angel,
and that he was a jealous brute; owned that he was unworthy of her, and
that he had no right to hate Pendennis; and asked her, implored her, to
say once more that she----

That she what?--The end of the question and Fanny's answer were
pronounced by lips that were so near each other, that no bystander could
hear the words. Mrs. Bolton only said, "Come, come, Mr. H.--no nonsense,
if you please; and I think you've acted like a wicked wretch, and been
most uncommon cruel to Fanny, that I do."

When Arthur left No. 2002, he went to pay his respects to the carriage
to which, and to the side of her mamma, the dove-coloured author of Mes
Larmes had by this time returned. Indefatigable old Major Pendennis was
in waiting upon Lady Clavering, and had occupied the back seat in her
carriage; the box being in possession of young Hopeful, under the care
of Captain Strong.

A number of dandies, and men of a certain fashion--of military bucks, of
young rakes of the public offices, of those who may be styled men's men
rather than ladies'--had come about the carriage during its station on
the hill--and had exchanged a word or two with Lady Clavering