jor Pendennis. "He takes it Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays."

The Major knocked, and at length a tall gentleman came forth, with a
foil and mask in one hand, and a fencing glove on the other.

Pendennis made him a deferential bow. "I believe I have the honour of
speaking to Captain Costigan--My name is Major Pendennis."

The Captain brought his weapon up to the salute, and said, "Major, the
honer is moine; I'm deloighted to see ye."

CHAPTER XI. Negotiation

The Major and Captain Costigan were old soldiers and accustomed to face
the enemy, so we may presume that they retained their presence of mind
perfectly; but the rest of the party assembled in Cos's sitting-room
were, perhaps, a little flurried at Pendennis's apparition. Miss
Fotheringay's slow heart began to beat no doubt, for her cheek flushed
up with a great healthy blush, as Lieutenant Sir Derby Oaks looked at
her with a scowl. The little crooked old man in the window-seat, who
had been witnessing the fencing-match between the two gentlemen (whose
stamping and jumping had been such as to cause him to give up all
attempts to continue writing the theatre music, in the copying of which
he had been engaged) looked up eagerly towards the new-comer as the
Major of the well-blacked boots entered the apartment distributing the
most graceful bows to everybody present.

"Me daughter--me friend, Mr. Bows--me gallant young pupil and friend,
I may call 'um, Sir Derby Oaks," said Costigan, splendidly waving his
hand, and pointing each of these individuals to the Major's attention.
"In one moment, Meejor, I'm your humble servant," and to dash into the
little adjoining chamber where he slept, to give a twist to his lank
hair with his hair-brush (a wonderful and ancient piece), to tear off
his old stock and put on a new one which Emily had constructed for him,
and to assume a handsome clean collar, and the new coat which had been
ordered upon the occasion of Miss Fotheringay's benefit, was with the
still active Costigan the work of a minute.

After him Sir Derby entered, and presently emerged from the same
apartment, where he also cased himself in his little shell-jacket, which
fitted tightly upon the young officer's big person; and which he, and
Miss Fotheringay, and poor Pen too, perhaps, admired prodigiously.

Meanwhile conversation was engaged between the actress and the
new-comer; and the usual remarks about the weather had been interchanged
before Costiga