affection. Indeed they deserve the regard of any woman--even Miss
Blanche Amory. Shake hands, Harry; don't look askance at me. Has anybody
told you that I was a false and heartless character?"

"I think you're a----" Foker was beginning, in his wrath, when Blanche
interposed.

"Henry, not a word!--I pray you let there be forgiveness!"

"You're an angel, by Jove, you're an angel!" said Foker, at which
Blanche looked seraphically up to the chandelier.

"In spite of what has passed, for the sake of what has passed, I must
always regard Arthur as a brother," the seraph continued; "we have known
each other years, we have trodden the same fields, and plucked the same
flowers together. Arthur! Henry! I beseech you to take hands and to be
friends! Forgive you!--I forgive you, Arthur, with my heart I do. Should
I not do so for making me so happy?"

"There is only one person of us three whom I pity, Blanche," Arthur
said, gravely, "and I say to you again, that I hope you will make this
good fellow, this honest and loyal creature, happy."

"Happy! O Heavens!" said Harry. He could not speak. His happiness gushed
out at his eyes. "She don't know--she can't know how fond I am of her,
and--and who am I? a poor little beggar, and she takes me up and says
she'll try and I--I--love me. I ain't worthy of so much happiness.
Give us your hand, old boy, since she forgives you after your heartless
conduct, and says she loves you. I'll make you welcome. I tell you I'll
love everybody who loves her. By---, if she tells me to kiss the ground
I'll kiss it. Tell me to kiss the ground! I say, tell me. I love you so.
You see I love you so."

Blanche looked up seraphically again. Her gentle bosom heaved. She held
out one hand as if to bless Harry, and then royally permitted him to
kiss it. She took up the pocket-handkerchief and hid her own eyes, as
the other fair hand was abandoned to poor Harry's tearful embrace.

"I swear that is a villain who deceives such a loving creature as that,"
said Pen.

Blanche laid down the handkerchief, and put hand No. 2 softly on Foker's
head, which was bent down kissing and weeping over hand No. 1. "Foolish
boy?" she said, "it shall be loved as it deserves: who could help loving
such a silly creature!"

And at this moment Frank Clavering broke in upon the sentimental trio.

"I say, Pendennis!" he said.

"Well, Frank!"

"The man wants to be paid, and go back. He's had some beer."

"I'll go back with h