d surprise and perhaps negation.
"You forget, Pendennis? Those who quit that room, sir, often forget on
the morrow what occurred during the revelry of the night. You did right
in refusing to return to that scene. We public men are obliged often
to seek our refreshment at hours when luckier individuals are lapt in
slumber."
"And what may be your occupation, Mr. Bayham?" asks the Colonel, rather
gloomily, for he had an idea that Bayham was adopting a strain of
persiflage which the Indian gentleman by no means relished. Never saying
aught but a kind word to any one, he was on fire at the notion that any
should take a liberty with him.
"A barrister, sir, but without business--a literary man, who can but
seldom find an opportunity to sell the works of his brains--a gentleman,
sir, who has met with neglect, perhaps merited, perhaps undeserved, from
his family. I get my bread as best I may. On that evening I had
been lecturing on the genius of some of our comic writers, at the
Parthenopoeon, Hackney. My audience was scanty, perhaps equal to
my deserts. I came home on foot to an egg and a glass of beer after
midnight, and witnessed the scene which did you so much honour. What is
this? I fancy a ludicrous picture of myself"--he had taken up the sketch
which Clive had been drawing--"I like fun, even at my own expense;
and can afford to laugh at a joke which is meant in good-humour." This
speech quite reconciled the honest Colonel. "I am sure the author of
that, Mr. Bayham, means you or any man no harm. Why! the rascal, sir,
has drawn me, his own father; and I have sent the drawing to Major
Hobbs, who is in command of my regiment. Chinnery himself, sir, couldn't
hit off a likeness better; he has drawn me on horseback, and he has
drawn me on foot, and he has drawn my friend, Mr. Binnie, who lives
with me. We have scores of his drawings at my lodgings; and if you will
favour us by dining with us to-day, and these gentlemen, you shall see
that you are not the only person caricatured by Clive here."
"I just took some little dinner upstairs, sir. I am a moderate man, and
can live, if need be, like a Spartan; but to join such good company
I will gladly use the knife and fork again. You will excuse the
traveller's dress? I keep a room here, which I use only occasionally,
and am at present lodging--in the country."
When Honeyman was ready, the Colonel, who had the greatest respect
for the Church, would not hear of going out of t
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