her "guardian," as she
was pleased to call Pen in consequence of his bequest, since the event
had occurred which had united her to Mr. Huxter.

"Samuel told me how kind you had been," she said. "You were always very
kind, Mr. Pendennis. And--and I hope your friend is better, who was took
ill in Shepherd's Inn, ma'am."

"My name is Laura," said the other, with a blush. "I am--that is, I
was--that is, I am Arthur's sister; and we shall always love you for
being so good to him when he was ill. And when we live in the country,
I hope we shall see each other. And I shall be always happy to hear of
your happiness, Fanny."

"We are going to do what you and Huxter have done, Fanny.--Where is
Huxter? What nice, snug lodgings you've got! What a pretty cat!"

While Fanny is answering these questions in reply to Pen, Laura says to
herself--"Well, now really! is this the creature about whom we were all
so frightened? What could he see in her? She's a homely little thing,
but such manners! Well, she was very kind to him,--bless her for that."

Mr. Samuel had gone out to meet his Pa. Mrs. Huxter said that the old
gentleman was to arrive that day at the Somerset Coffee-house, in the
Strand; and Fanny confessed that she was in a sad tremor about the
meeting. "If his parent casts him off, what are we to do?" she said. "I
shall never pardon myself for bringing ruing on my 'usband's 'ead. You
must intercede for us, Mr. Arthur. If mortal man can, you can bend and
influence Mr. Huxter senior." Fanny still regarded Pen in the light of
a superior being, that was evident. No doubt Arthur thought of the past,
as he marked the solemn little tragedy-airs and looks, the little ways,
the little trepidations, vanities, of the little bride. As soon as the
interview was over, entered Messrs. Linton and Blades, who came, of
course, to visit Huxter, and brought with them a fine fragrance of
tobacco. They had watched the carriage at the baker's door, and remarked
the coronet with awe. They asked of Fanny who was that uncommonly heavy
swell who had just driven off? and pronounced the countess was of
the right sort. And when they heard that it was Mr. Pendennis and his
sister, they remarked that Pen's father was only a sawbones; and that he
gave himself confounded airs; they had been in Huxter's company on the
night of his little altercation with Pen in the Back Kitchen.

Returning homewards through Fleet Street, and as Laura was just stating
to Pen's