e third year of the concern, the house of
Hobson Brothers, of London, became the agents of the Bundelcund
Banking Company of India and amongst our friends, James Binnie, who
had prudently held out for some time and Clive Newcome, Esq., became
shareholders, Clive's good father having paid the first instalments
of the lad's shares up in Calcutta, and invested every rupee he could
himself command in this enterprise. When Hobson Brothers joined it, no
wonder James Binnie was convinced; Clive's friend, the Frenchman, and
through that connexion the house of Higg, of Newcome and Manchester,
entered into the affair; and amongst the minor contributors in England
we may mention Miss Cann, who took a little fifty-pound-note share and
dear old Miss Honeyman; and J. J., and his father, Ridley, who brought a
small bag of saving--all knowing that their Colonel, who was eager that
his friends should participate in his good fortune, would never lead
them wrong. To Clive's surprise Mrs. Mackenzie, between whom and himself
there was a considerable coolness, came to his chambers, and with a
solemn injunction that the matter between them should be quite private,
requested him to purchase 1500 pounds worth of Bundelcund shares for
her and her darling girls, which he did, astonished to find the thrifty
widow in possession of so much money. Had Mr. Pendennis's mind not been
bent at this moment on quite other subjects, he might have increased his
own fortune by the Bundelcund Bank speculation; but in these two years
I was engaged in matrimonial affairs (having Clive Newcome, Esq., as my
groomsman on a certain interesting occasion). When we returned from our
tour abroad the India Bank shares were so very high that I did not care
to purchase, though I found an affectionate letter from our good Colonel
(enjoining me to make my fortune) awaiting me at the agent's, and my
wife received a pair of beautiful Cashmere shawls from the same kind
friend.

CHAPTER XLIX. Contains at least six more Courses and two Desserts

The banker's dinner-party over, we returned to our apartments, having
dropped Major Pendennis at his lodgings, and there, as the custom is
amongst most friendly married couples, talked over the company and the
dinner. I thought my wife would naturally have liked Sir Barnes Newcome,
who was very attentive to her, took her to dinner as the bride, and
talked ceaselessly to her during the whole entertainment.

Laura said No--she did