had done the cook. "Who thinks the worse of you
for stumbling in a waltz?" If Laura does, we don't. "Why are you so
sensitive, and ready to think evil?"

Here again, by ill luck, Mr. Pynsent came up to Laura, and said "I have
it in command from Lady Rockminster to ask whether I may take you in to
supper?"

"I--I was going in with my cousin," Laura said.

"O--pray, no!" said Pen. "You are in such good hands, that I can't do
better than leave you: and I'm going home."

"Good-night, Mr. Pendennis," Pynsent said, drily--to which speech
(which, in fact, meant, "Go to the deuce for an insolent, jealous,
impertinent jackanapes, whose ears I should like to box") Mr. Pendennis
did not vouchsafe any reply, except a bow: and in spite of Laura's
imploring looks, he left the room.

"How beautifully calm and bright the night outside is!" said Mr.
Pynsent; "and what a murmur the sea is making! It would be pleasanter to
be walking on the beach, than in this hot room."

"Very," said Laura.

"What a strange congregation of people," continued Pynsent. "I have
had to go up and perform the agreeable to most of them--the attorney's
daughters--the apothecary's wife--I scarcely know whom. There was a man
in the refreshment-room, who insisted upon treating me to champagne--a
seafaring-looking man--extraordinarily dressed, and seeming half tipsy.
As a public man one is bound to conciliate all these people, but it is
a hard task--especially when one would so very much like to be
elsewhere"--and he blushed rather as he spoke.

"I beg your pardon," said Laura--"I--I was not listening. Indeed--I was
frightened about that quarrel between my cousin and that--that--French
person."

"Your cousin has been rather unlucky to-night," Pynsent said. "There
are three or four persons whom he has not succeeded in pleasing--captain
Broadwood; what is his name--the officer--and the young lady in red with
whom he danced--and Miss Blanche--and the poor chef--and I don't think
he seemed to be particularly pleased with me."

"Didn't he leave me in charge to you?" Laura said, looking up into Mr.
Pynsent's face, and dropping her eyes instantly, like a guilty little
story-telling coquette.

"Indeed, I can forgive him a good deal for that," Pynsent eagerly
cried out, and she took his arm, and he led off his little prize in the
direction of the supper-room.

She had no great desire for that repast, though it was served in
Rincer's well-known style, as the