. Pendennis, as yet but
imperfectly acquainted with the history of the Newcomes.

And Laura told me--perhaps I had heard before, and forgotten--that Mrs.
Mason was an old nurse and pensioner of the Colonel's, and how he had
been to see her for the sake of old times; and how she was a great
favourite with Ethel; and Laura kissed her little son, and was
exceedingly bright, cheerful, and hilarious that evening, in spite of
the affliction under which her dear friends at Newcome were labouring.

People in country-houses should be exceedingly careful about their
blotting-paper. They should bring their own portfolios with them. If
any kind readers will bear this simple little hint in mind, how much
mischief may they save themselves,--nay, enjoy possibly, by looking at
the pages of the next portfolio in the next friend's bedroom in which
they sleep. From such a book I once cut out, in Charles Slyboots'
well-known and perfectly clear handwriting, the words, "Miss Emily
Hartington, James Street, Backingham Gate, London," and produced as
legibly on the blotting-paper as on the envelope which the postman
delivered. After showing the paper round to the company, I enclosed it
in a note and sent it to Mr. Slyboots, who married Miss Hartington three
months afterwards. In such a book at the club I read, as plainly as you
may read this page, a holograph page of the Right Honourable the Earl
of Bareacres, which informed the whole club of a painful and private
circumstance, and said, "My dear Green,--I am truly sorry that I shall
not be able to take up the bill for eight hundred and fifty-six pounds,
which becomes due next Tu----" and upon such a book, going to write a
note in Madame de Moncontour's drawing-room at Rosebury, what should
I find but proofs that my own wife was engaged in a clandestine
correspondence with a gentleman residing abroad!

"Colonel Newcome, C.B., Montagne de la Cour, Brussels," I read, in this
young woman's handwriting; and asked, turning round upon Laura, who
entered the room just as I discovered her guilt: "What have you been
writing to Colonel Newcome about, miss?"

"I wanted him to get me some lace," she said.

"To lace some nightcaps for me, didn't you, my dear? He is such a fine
judge of lace! If I had known you had been writing, I would have asked
you to send him a message. I want something from Brussels. Is the
letter--ahem--gone?" (In this artful way, you see, I just hinted that I
should like to see