infinite amusement that Fanny was very well, but that really
there was no beauty in her,--there might be, but she could not see
it,--as they were locked near Temple Bar, they saw young Huxter
returning to his bride. "The governor had arrived; was at the Somerset
Coffee-house--was in tolerable good-humour--something about the railway:
but he had been afraid to speak about--about that business. Would Mr.
Pendennis try it on?"

Pen said he would go and call at that moment upon Mr. Huxter, and see
what might be done. Huxter junior would lurk outside whilst that awful
interview took place. The coronet on the carriage inspired his soul also
with wonder; and old Mr. Huxter himself beheld it with delight, as he
looked from the coffee-house window on that Strand which it was always a
treat to him to survey.

"And I can afford to give myself a lark, sir," said Mr. Huxter, shaking
hands with Pen. "Of course you know the news? we have got our bill, sir.
We shall have our branch line--our shares are up, sir--and we buy your
three fields along the Brawl, and put a pretty penny into your pocket,
Mr. Pendennis."

"Indeed!--that was good news." Pen remembered that there was a letter
from Mr. Tatham, at Chambers, these three days; but he had not opened
the communication, being interested with other affairs.

"I hope you don't intend to grow rich, and give up practice," said Pen.
"We can't lose you at Clavering, Mr. Huxter; though I hear very good
accounts of your son. My friend, Dr. Goodenough speaks most highly of
his talents. It is hard that a man of your eminence, though, should be
kept in a country town."

"The metropolis would have been my sphere of action, sir," said Mr.
Huxter, surveying the Strand. "But a man takes his business where he
finds it; and I succeeded to that of my father."

"It was my father's, too," said Pen. "I sometimes wish I had followed
it."

"You, sir, have taken a more lofty career," said the old gentleman. "You
aspire to the senate: and to literary honours. You wield the poet's
pen, sir, and move in the circles of fashion. We keep an eye upon you at
Clavering. We read your name in the lists of the select parties of the
nobility. Why, it was only the other day that my wife was remarking how
odd it was that at a party at the Earl of Kidderminster's your name was
not mentioned. To what member of the aristocracy may I ask does that
equipage belong from which I saw you descend? The Countess Dowager of
Ro