rtainment. Mrs. Hobson and Lady Clara were the matrons who gave
the sanction of their presence to this bachelor-party. Neither of their
husbands could come to Clive's little fete; had they not the City and
the House of Commons to attend? My uncle, Major Pendennis, was another
of the guests; who for his part found the party was what you young
fellows call very slow. Dreading Mrs. Hobson and her powers of
conversation, the old gentleman nimbly skipped out of her neighbourhood,
and fell by the side of Lord Highgate, to whom the Major was inclined
to make himself very pleasant. But Lord Highgate's broad back was
turned upon his neighbour, who was forced to tell stories to Captain
Crackthorpe, which had amused dukes and marquises in former days,
and were surely quite good enough for any baron in this realm. "Lord
Highgate sweet upon la belle Newcome, is he?" said the testy Major
afterwards. "He seemed to me to talk to Lady Clara the whole time. When
I awoke in the garden after dinner, as Mrs. Hobson was telling one of
her confounded long stories, I found her audience was diminished to
one. Crackthorpe, Lord Highgate, and Lady Clara, we had all been sitting
there when the bankeress cut in (in the mid of a very good story I
was telling them, which entertained them very much), and never ceased
talking till I fell off into a doze. When I roused myself, begad, she
was still going on. Crackthorpe was off, smoking a cigar on the terrace:
my Lord and Lady Clara were nowhere; and you four, with the little
painter, were chatting cosily in another arbour. Behaved himself very
well, the little painter. Doosid good dinner Ellis gave us. But as for
Highgate being aux soins with la belle Banquiere, trust me, my boy,
he is--upon my word, my dear, it seemed to me his thoughts went quite
another way. To be sure, Lady Clara is a belle Banquiere too now. He,
he, he! How could he say he had no carriage to go home in? He came
down in Crackthorpe's cab, who passed us just now, driving back young
What-dye-call the painter."

Thus did the Major discourse, as we returned towards the City. I could
see in the open carriage which followed us (Lady Clara Newcome's) Lord
Highgate's white hat, by Clive's on the back seat.

Laura looked at her husband. The same thought may have crossed their
minds, though neither uttered it; but although Sir Barnes and Lady
Clara Newcome offered us other civilities during our stay in London,
no inducements could induce Lau