Park, which dreary mansion, since his
double defeat, Sir Barnes scarcely ever visited. Christmas was come, and
Rosebury hall was decorated with holly. Florac did his best to welcome
his friends, and strove to make the meeting gay, though in truth it
was rather melancholy. The children, however, were happy: and they had
pleasure enough, in the school festival, in the distribution of cloaks
and blankets to the poor, and in Madame de Moncontour's gardens,
delightful and beautiful though the winter was there.

It was only a family meeting, Madame de Florac's widowhood not
permitting her presence in large companies. Paul sate at his table
between his mother and Mrs. Pendennis; Mr. Pendennis opposite to him,
with Ethel and Madame de Moncontour on each side. The four children were
placed between these personages, on whom Madame de Florac looked with
her tender glances, and to whose little wants the kindest of hosts
ministered with uncommon good-nature and affection. He was very
soft-hearted about children. "Pourquoi n'en avons-nous pas, Jeanne? He!
quoi n'en avons-nous pas?" he said, addressing his wife by her Christian
name. The poor little lady looked kindly at her husband, and then gave
a sigh, and turned and heaped cake upon the plate of the child next
to her. No mamma or Aunt Ethel could interpose. It was a very light
wholesome cake. Brown made it on purpose for the children, "the little
darlings!" cries the Princess.

The children were very happy at being allowed to sit up so late to
dinner, at all the kindly amusements of the day, at the holly and
mistletoe clustering round the lamps--the mistletoe, under which the
gallant Florac, skilled in all British usages, vowed he would have his
privilege. But the mistletoe was clustered round the lamp, the lamp was
over the centre of the great round table--the innocent gratification
which he proposed to himself was denied to M. Paul.

In the greatest excitement and good-humour, our host at the dessert made
us des speech. He carried a toast to the charming Ethel, another to the
charming Mistriss Laura, another to his good fren', his brave frren',
his 'appy fren', Pendennis--'appy as possessor of such a wife, 'appy
as writer of works destined to the immortality, etc. etc. The little
children round about clapped their happy little hands, and laughed and
crowed in chorus. And now the nursery and its guardians were about to
retreat, when Florac said he had yet a speech, yet a toast-