ld drive
as well as Tom Hicks himself. Pen sate on the roof, examining coach,
passengers, and country with great delight and curiosity. His heart
jumped with pleasure as the famous university came in view, and the
magnificent prospect of venerable towers and pinnacles, tall elms and
shining river, spread before him.

Pen had passed a few days with his uncle at the Major's lodgings, in
Bury Street, before they set out for Oxbridge. Major Pendennis thought
that the lad's wardrobe wanted renewal; and Arthur was by no means
averse to any plan which was to bring him new coats and waistcoats.
There was no end to the sacrifices which the self-denying uncle made in
the youth's behalf. London was awfully lonely. The Pall Mall pavement
was deserted; the very red jackets had gone out of town. There was
scarce a face to be seen in the bow-windows of the clubs. The Major
conducted his nephew into one or two of those desert mansions, and wrote
down the lad's name on the candidate-list of one of them; and Arthur's
pleasure at this compliment on his guardian's part was excessive. He
read in the parchment volume his name and titles, as 'Arthur Pendennis,
Esquire, of Fairoaks Lodge, ----shire and Saint Boniface College,
Oxbridge; proposed by Major Pendennis, and seconded by Viscount
Colchicum,' with a thrill of intense gratification. "You will come in
for ballot in about three years, by which time you will have taken your
degree," the guardian said. Pen longed for the three years to be over,
and surveyed the stucco-halls, and vast libraries, and drawing-rooms
as already his own property. The Major laughed slyly to see the pompous
airs of the simple young fellow as he strutted out of the building. He
and Foker drove down in the latter's cab one day to the Grey Friars,
and renewed acquaintance with some of their old comrades there. The boys
came crowding up to the cab as it stood by the Grey Friars gates, where
they were entering, and admired the chestnut horse, and the tights and
livery and gravity of Stoopid, the tiger. The bell for afternoon-school
rang as they were swaggering about the play-ground talking to their old
cronies. The awful Doctor passed into school with his grammar in
his hand. Foker slunk away uneasily at his presence, but Pen went up
blushing, and shook the dignitary by the hand. He laughed as he thought
that well-remembered Latin Grammar had boxed his ears many a time. He
was generous, good-natured, and, in a word, per