wife as it had subjugated poor Clive. Even the reluctant Farintosh was
compelled to own her power, and confidentially told his male friends,
that, hang it, she was so handsome, and so clever, and so confoundedly
pleasant and fascinating, and that--that he had been on the point of
popping the fatal question ever so many times, by Jove. "And hang it,
you know," his lordship would say, "I don't want to marry until I have
had my fling, you know." As for Clive, Ethel treated him like a boy,
like a big brother. She was jocular, kind, pert, pleasant with him,
ordered him on her errands, accepted his bouquets and compliments,
admired his drawings, liked to hear him praised, and took his part in
all companies; laughed at his sighs, and frankly owned to Laura her
liking for him and her pleasure in seeing him. "Why," said she, "should
not I be happy as long as the sunshine lasts? To-morrow, I know, will be
glum and dreary enough. When grandmamma comes back I shall scarcely
be able to come and see you. When I am settled in life--eh! I shall be
settled in life! Do not grudge me my holiday, Laura. Oh, if you knew
how stupid it is to be in the world, and how much pleasanter to come and
talk, and laugh, and sing, and be happy with you, than to sit in that
dreary Eaton Place with poor Clara!"

"Why do you stay in Eaton Place?" asks Laura.

"Why? because I must go out with somebody. What an unsophisticated
little country creature you are! Grandmamma is away, and I cannot go
about to parties by myself."

"But why should you go to parties, and why not go back to your mother?"
says Mrs. Pendennis, gently.

"To the nursery, and my little sisters, and Miss Cann? I like being in
London best, thank you. You look grave? You think a girl should like to
be with her mother and sisters best? My dear mamma wishes me to be here,
and I stay with Barnes and Clara by grandmamma's orders. Don't you know
that I have been made over to Lady Kew, who has adopted me? Do you
think a young lady of my pretensions can stop at home in a damp house in
Warwickshire and cut bread-and-butter for little schoolboys? Don't look
so very grave and shake your head so, Mrs. Pendennis! If you had been
bred as I have, you would be as I am. I know what you are thinking,
madam."

"I am thinking," said Laura, blushing and bowing her head--"I am
thinking, if it pleases God to give me children, I should like to live
at home at Fairoaks." My wife's thoughts, though she did not u