ith points
of wit, nay, with pretty little verses very likely, in reply to the
versicles of the Muse of 'Mes Larmes.' Blanche we know rhymes with
"branch," and "stanch," and "launch," and no doubt a gentleman of Pen's
ingenuity would not forgo these advantages of position, and would ring
the pretty little changes upon these pleasing notes. Indeed we believe
that those love-verses of Mr. Pen's, which had such a pleasing success
in the 'Roseleaves,' that charming Annual edited by Lady Violet Lebas,
and illustrated by portraits of the female nobility by the famous artist
Pinkney, were composed at this period of our hero's life; and were first
addressed to Blanche per post, before they figured in print, cornets as
it were to Pinkney's pictorial garland.

"Verses are all very well," the elder Pendennis said, who found Pen
scratching down one of these artless effusions at the Club as he was
waiting for his dinner; "and letter-writing if mamma allows it,
and between such old country friends of course there may be a
correspondence, and that sort of thing--but mind, Pen, and don't commit
yourself, my boy. For who knows what the doose may happen? The best way
is to make your letters safe. I never wrote a letter in all my life that
would commit me, and demmy, sir, I have had some experience of women."
And the worthy gentleman, growing more garrulous and confidential with
his nephew as he grew older, told many affecting instances of the
evil results consequent upon this want of caution to many persons in
"Society;"--how from using too ardent expressions in some poetical notes
to the widow Naylor, young Spoony had subjected himself to a visit of
remonstrance from the widow's brother, Colonel Flint; and thus had been
forced into a marriage with a woman old enough to be his mother: how
when Louisa Salter had at length succeeded in securing young Sir John
Bird, Hopwood, of the Blues, produced some letters which Miss S. had
written to him, and caused a withdrawal on Bird's part, who afterwards
was united to Miss Stickney, of Lyme Regis, etc. The Major, if he had
not reading, had plenty of observation, and could back his wise saws
with a multitude of modern instances, which he had acquired in a long
and careful perusal of the great book of the world.

Pen laughed at the examples, and blushing a little at his uncle's
remonstrances, said that he would bear them in mind and be cautious.
He blushed, perhaps, because he had borne them in min