in the greatest good-humour. He had regaled them
with some of his stories, which, though not quite so fresh in London
(where people have a diseased appetite for novelty in the way of
anecdotes), were entirely new at Oxbridge, and the lads heard them with
that honest sympathy, that eager pleasure, that boisterous laughter, or
that profound respect, so rare in the metropolis, and which must be so
delightful to the professed raconteur. Only once or twice during the
telling of the anecdote Mr. Bloundell's face wore a look of scorn,
or betrayed by its expression that he was acquainted with the tales
narrated. Once he had the audacity to question the accuracy of one of
the particulars of a tale as given by Major Pendennis, and gave his own
version of the anecdote, about which he knew he was right, for he
heard it openly talked of at the Club by So-and-so and T'other who were
present at the business. The youngsters present looked up with wonder
at their associate, who dared to interrupt the Major--few of them
could appreciate that melancholy grace and politeness with which Major
Pendennis at once acceded to Mr. Bloundell's version of the story,
and thanked him for correcting his own error. They stared on the next
occasion of meeting, when Bloundell spoke in contemptuous terms of
old Pen; said everybody knew old Pen, regular old trencherman at Gaunt
House, notorious old bore, regular old fogy.

Major Pendennis on his side liked Mr. Bloundell not a whit. These
sympathies are pretty sure to be mutual amongst men and women, and if,
for my part, some kind friend tells me that such and such a man has been
abusing me, I am almost sure, on my own side, that I have a misliking
to such and such a man. We like or dislike each other, as folks like or
dislike the odour of certain flowers, or the taste of certain dishes or
wines, or certain books. We can't tell why--but as a general rule, all
the reasons in the world will not make us love Dr. Fell, and as sure as
we dislike him, we may be sure that he dislikes us.

So the Major said, "Pen, my boy, your dinner went off a merveille; you
did the honours very nicely--you carved well--I am glad you learned to
carve--it is done on the sideboard now in most good houses, but is
still an important point, and may aid you in middle-life--young Lord
Plinlimmon is a very amiable young man, quite the image of his dear
mother (whom I knew as Lady Aquila Brownbill); and Lord Magnus's
republicanism will we