s--and, of course, as Mr. Hobnell likes
being thrashed, we can have no objection, sir, and we shall be very
happy to accommodate him, whenever he comes our way."

And with this, the young fellow bowed the elder gentleman out of the
room, and sate down and wrote a note off to Pen, in which he informed
the latter that Mr. Hobnell was not disposed to fight, and proposed to
put up with the caning which Pen had administered to him.

CHAPTER XVI. More Storms in the Puddle

Pen's conduct in this business of course was soon made public, and
angered his friend Doctor Portman not a little: while it only amused
Major Pendennis. As for the good Mrs. Pendennis, she was almost
distracted when she heard of the squabble, and of Pen's unchristian
behaviour. All sorts of wretchedness, discomfort, crime, annoyance,
seemed to come out of this transaction in which the luckless boy had
engaged; and she longed more than ever to see him out of Chatteris for a
while,--anywhere removed from the woman who had brought him into so much
trouble.

Pen when remonstrated with by this fond parent, and angrily rebuked by
the Doctor for his violence and ferocious intentions, took the matter au
grand serieux, with the happy conceit and gravity of youth: said that he
himself was very sorry for the affair, that the insult had come upon him
without the slightest provocation on his part; that he would permit no
man to insult him upon this head without vindicating his own honour, and
appealing with great dignity to his uncle, asked whether he could have
acted otherwise as a gentleman, than as he did in resenting the outrage
offered to him, and in offering satisfaction to the person chastised?

"Vous allez trop vite, my good sir," said the uncle, rather puzzled, for
he had been indoctrinating his nephew with some of his own notions upon
the point of honour--old-world notions savouring of the camp and pistol
a great deal more than our soberer opinions of the present day--"between
men of the world I don't say; but between two schoolboys, this sort of
thing is ridiculous, my dear boy--perfectly ridiculous."

"It is extremely wicked, and unlike my son," said Mrs. Pendennis, with
tears in her eyes, and bewildered with the obstinacy of the boy.

Pen kissed her, and said with great pomposity, "Women, dear mother,
don't understand these matters--I put myself into Foker's hands--I had
no other course to pursue."

Major Pendennis grinned and shrugged his s