gents are better off now--eh? You ride in your cabs, and wear yellow kid
gloves now."

"I have known so many brave and good men fail, and so many quacks and
impostors succeed, that you mistake me if you think I am puffed up by my
own personal good luck, old friend," Arthur said, sadly. "Do you think
the prizes of life are carried by the most deserving? and set up that
mean test of prosperity for merit? You must feel that you are as good
as I. I have never questioned it. It is you that are peevish against the
freaks of fortune, and grudge the good luck that befalls others. It's
not the first time you have unjustly accused me, Bows."

"Perhaps you are not far wrong, sir," said the old fellow, wiping his
bald forehead. "I am thinking about myself and grumbling; most men do
when they get on that subject. Here's the fellow that's got the prize in
the lottery; here's the fortunate youth."

"I don't know what you are driving at," Huxter said, who had been much
puzzled as the above remarks passed between his two companions.

"Perhaps not," said Bows, drily. "Mrs. H. sent me here to look after
you, and to see that you brought that little message to Mr. Pendennis,
which you didn't, you see, and so she was right. Women always are; they
have always a reason for everything. Why, sir," he said, turning round
to Pen with a sneer, "she had a reason even for giving me that message.
I was sitting with her after you left us, very quiet and comfortable; I
was talking away, and she was mending your shirts, when your two young
friends, Jack Linton and Bob Blades, looked in from Bartholomew's; and
then it was she found out that she had this message to send. You needn't
hurry yourself, she don't want you back again; they'll stay these two
hours, I daresay."

Huxter arose with great perturbation at this news, and plunged his stick
into the pocket of his paletot, and seized his hat.

"You'll come and see us, sir, won't you?" he said to Pen. "You'll talk
over the governor, won't you, sir, if I can get out of this place and
down to Clavering?"

"You will promise to attend me gratis if ever I fall ill at Fairoaks,
will you, Huxter?" Pen said, good-naturedly. "I will do anything I
can for you. I will come and see Mrs. Huxter immediately, and we will
conspire together about what is to be done."

"I thought that would send him out, sir," Bows said, dropping into his
chair again as soon as the young surgeon had quitted the room. "And it's
all