we had just partaken was given in honour of the
bride. Clive must needs not be outdone in hospitality; and invited us
and others to a fine feast at the Star and Garter at Richmond, where
Mrs. Pendennis was placed at his right hand. I smile as I think how much
dining has been already commemorated in these veracious pages; but the
story is an everyday record; and does not dining form a certain part of
the pleasure and business of every day? It is at that pleasant hour
that our set has the privilege of meeting the other. The morning man and
woman alike devote to business; or pass mainly in the company of their
own kind. John has his office; Jane her household, her nursery, her
milliner, her daughters and their masters. In the country he has his
hunting, his fishing, his farming, his letters; she her schools, her
poor, her garden, or what not. Parted through the shining hours, and
improving them, let us trust, we come together towards sunset only, we
make merry and amuse ourselves. We chat with our pretty neighbour, or
survey the young ones sporting; we make love and are jealous; we dance,
or obsequiously turn over the leaves of Cecilia's music-book; we play
whist, or go to sleep in the arm-chair, according to our ages and
conditions. Snooze gently in thy arm-chair, thou easy bald-head! play
your whist, or read your novel, or talk scandal over your work, ye
worthy dowagers and fogies! Meanwhile the young ones frisk about, or
dance, or sing, or laugh; or whisper behind curtains in moonlit windows;
or shirk away into the garden, and come back smelling of cigars; nature
having made them so to do.

Nature at this time irresistibly impelled Clive Newcome towards
love-making. It was pairing-season with him. Mr. Clive was now some
three-and-twenty years old: enough has been said about his good looks,
which were in truth sufficient to make him a match for the young lady
on whom he had set his heart, and from whom, during this entertainment
which he gave to my wife, he could never keep his eyes away for three
minutes. Laura's did not need to be so keen as they were in order to
see what poor Clive's condition was. She did not in the least grudge the
young fellow's inattention to herself; or feel hurt that he did not seem
to listen when she spoke; she conversed with J. J., her neighbour, who
was very modest and agreeable; while her husband, not so well pleased,
had Mrs. Hobson Newcome for his partner during the chief part of the
ente