an article to write. George hesitated; and
oh, strange to say! at last he agreed to go. It was agreed that they
should go and call upon the ladies; and they marched away in high
spirits to the hotel in Jermyn Street. Once more the dear face shone
upon him; once more the sweet voice spoke to him, and the tender hand
pressed a welcome.

There still wanted half an hour to dinner. "You will go and see your
uncle now, Mr. Pendennis," old Lady Rockminster said. "You will not
bring him to dinner-no--his old stories are intolerable; and I want
to talk to Mr. Warrington; I daresay he will amuse us. I think we have
heard all your stories. We have been together for two whole days, and I
think we are getting tired of each other."

So, obeying her ladyship's orders, Arthur went downstairs and walked to
his uncle's lodgings.

CHAPTER LXXI. Fiat Justitia

The dinner was served when Arthur returned, and Lady Rockminster began
to scold him for arriving late. But Laura, looking at her cousin, saw
that his face was so pale and scared, that she interrupted her imperious
patroness; and asked, with tender alarm, what had happened? Was Arthur
ill?

Arthur drank a large bumper of sherry. "I have heard the most
extraordinary news; I will tell you afterwards," he said, looking at
the servants. He was very nervous and agitated during the dinner. "Don't
tramp and beat so with your feet under the table," Lady Rockminster
said. "You have trodden on Fido, and upset his saucer. You see Mr.
Warrington keeps his boots quiet."

At the dessert--it seemed as if the unlucky dinner would never be
over--Lady Rockminster said, "This dinner has been exceedingly stupid.
I suppose something has happened, and that you want to speak to Laura.
I will go and have my nap. I am not sure that I shall have any tea--no.
Good night, Mr. Warrington. You must come again, and when there is no
business to talk about." And the old lady, tossing up her head, walked
away from the room with great dignity.

George and the others had risen with her, and Warrington was about to go
away, and was saying "Good night" to Laura, who, of course, was looking
much alarmed about her cousin, when Arthur said, "Pray, stay, George.
You should hear my news too, and give me your counsel in this case. I
hardly know how to act in it."

"It's something about Blanche, Arthur," said Laura, her heart beating,
and her cheek blushing as she thought it had never blushed in her life.

"Y