the
second course, there was a hare and partridges top and bottom, and
when after the withdrawal of the servants Pen said to the Vicar of
Tinckleton, "I think, Mr. Stooks, you should have asked Hodson to
cut the hare," the joke was taken instantly by the clergyman, who was
followed in the course of a few minutes by Captains Stokes and Glanders,
and by Mr. Hobnell, who arrived rather late, but with an immense guffaw.

* * * * * *

While Mr. Pen was engaged in the country in the above schemes, it
happened that the lady of his choice, if not of his affections, came up
to London from the Tunbridge villa bound upon shopping expeditions or
important business, and in company of old Mrs. Bonner, her mother's
maid, who had lived and quarrelled with Blanche many times since she was
an infant, and who now being about to quit Lady Clavering's service for
the hymeneal state, was anxious like a good soul to bestow some token of
respectful kindness upon her old and young mistress before she quitted
them altogether, to take her post as the wife of Lightfoot, and landlady
of the Clavering Arms.

The honest woman took the benefit of Miss Amory's taste to make the
purchase which she intended to offer her ladyship; and, requested the
fair Blanche to choose something for herself that should be to her
liking, and remind her of her old nurse who had attended her through
many a wakeful night, and eventful teething, and childish fever, and who
loved her like a child of her own a'most. These purchases were made, and
as the nurse insisted on buying an immense Bible for Blanche, the young
lady suggested that Bonner should purchase a large Johnson's Dictionary
for her mamma. Each of the two women might certainly profit by the
present made to her.

Then Mrs. Bonner invested money in some bargains in linen-drapery,
which might be useful at the Clavering Arms, and bought a red and yellow
neck-handkerchief, which Blanche could see at once was intended for Mr.
Lightfoot. Younger than herself by at least five-and-twenty years,
Mrs. Bonner regarded that youth with a fondness at once parental and
conjugal, and loved to lavish ornaments on his person, which already
glittered with pins, rings, shirt-studs, and chains and seals, purchased
at the good creature's expense.

It was in the Strand that Mrs. Bonner made her purchases, aided by Miss
Blanche, who liked the fun very well; and when the old lady had bought
everything