se engraven on the trunk
of Mr. Newcome's allegorical silver cocoa-nut tree. As we travelled
homewards in the omnibus, Fred Bayham noticed the circumstance to me.
"I have looked over the list of names," says he, "not merely that on the
trunk, sir, but the printed list; it was rolled up and placed in one of
the nests on the top of the tree. Why is Hobson's name not there?--Ha!
it mislikes me, Pendennis."

F. B., who was now very great about City affairs, discoursed about
stocks and companies with immense learning, and gave me to understand
that he had transacted one or two little operations in Capel Court
on his own account, with great present, and still larger prospective,
advantages to himself. It is a fact that Mr. Ridley was paid, and that
F. B.'s costume, though still eccentric, was comfortable, cleanly, and
variegated. He occupied the apartments once tenanted by the amiable
Honeyman. He lived in ease and comfort there. "You don't suppose," says
he, "that the wretched stipend I draw from the Pall Mall Gazette enables
me to maintain this kind of thing? F. B., sir, has a station in the
world; F. B. moves among moneyers and City nobs, and eats cabobs with
wealthy nabobs. He may marry, sir, and settle in life." We cordially
wished every worldly prosperity to the brave F. B.

Happening to descry him one day in the Park, I remarked that his
countenance wore an ominous and tragic appearance, which seemed to
deepen as he neared me. I thought he had been toying affably with
a nursery-maid the moment before, who stood with some of her little
charges watching the yachts upon the Serpentine. Howbeit, espying my
approach, F. B. strode away from the maiden and her innocent companions,
and advanced to greet his old acquaintance, enveloping his face with
shades of funereal gloom.

"Yon were the children of my good friend Colonel Huckaback of the Bombay
Marines! Alas! unconscious of their doom, the little infants play. I
was watching them at their sports. There is a pleasing young woman in
attendance upon the poor children. They were sailing their little boats
upon the Serpentine; racing and laughing, and making merry; and as
I looked on, Master Hastings Huckaback's boat went down! Absit omen,
Pendennis! I was moved by the circumstance. F. B. hopes that the child's
father's argosy may not meet with shipwreck!"

"You mean the little yellow-faced man whom we met at Colonel Newcome's?"
says Mr. Pendennis.

"I do, sir," growled F.