houlders. The young ones were
certainly making great progress, he thought. Mrs. Pendennis declared
that that Foker was a wicked horrid little wretch, and was sure that he
would lead her dear boy into mischief, if Pen went to the same College
with him. "I have a great mind not to let him go at all," she said: and
only that she remembered that the lad's father had always destined him
for the College in which he had had his own brief education, very likely
the fond mother would have put a veto upon his going to the University.

That he was to go, and at the next October term, had been arranged
between all the authorities who presided over the lad's welfare. Foker
had promised to introduce him to the right set; and Major Pendennis laid
great store upon Pen's introduction into College life and society by
this admirable young gentleman. "Mr. Foker knows the very best young men
now at the University," the Major said, "and Pen will form acquaintances
there who will be of the greatest advantage through life to him. The
young Marquis of Plinlimmon is there, eldest son of the Duke of Saint
David's--Lord Magnus Charters is there, Lord Runnymede's son, and a
first cousin of Mr. Foker (Lady Runnymede, my dear, was Lady Agatha
Milton, you of course remember); Lady Agnes will certainly invite him to
Logwood; and far from being alarmed at his intimacy with her son, who
is a singular and humorous, but most prudent and amiable young man, to
whom, I am sure, we are under every obligation for his admirable conduct
in the affair of the Fotheringay marriage, I look upon it as one of the
very luckiest things which could have happened to Pen, that he should
have formed an intimacy with this most amusing young gentleman."

Helen sighed, she supposed the Major knew best. Mr. Foker had been very
kind in the wretched business with Miss Costigan, certainly, and she
was grateful to him. But she could not feel otherwise than a
dim presentiment of evil; and all these quarrels, and riots, and
worldliness, scared her about the fate of her boy.

Doctor Portman was decidedly of opinion that Pen should go to College.
He hoped the lad would read, and have a moderate indulgence of the
best society too. He was of opinion that Pen would distinguish himself:
Smirke spoke very highly of his proficiency: the Doctor himself had
heard him construe, and thought he acquitted himself remarkably well.
That he should go out of Chatteris was a great point at any rate; an