bad as the rest."

"Have you been asking Arthur why he won't marry me?" said Laura, with a
kindling smile, coming back and taking her cousin's hand. (She had been
away, perhaps, to hide some traces of emotion, which she did not wish
others to see.) "He is going to marry somebody else; and I intend to be
very fond of her, and to go and live with them, provided he then does
not ask every bachelor who comes to his house, why he does not marry
me?"

The terrors of Pen's conscience being thus appeased, and his examination
before Laura over without any reproaches on the part of the latter,
Pen began to find that his duty and inclination led him constantly to
Baymouth, where Lady Rockminster informed him that a place was always
reserved for him at her table. "And I recommend you to come often," the
old lady said, "for Grandjean is an excellent cook, and to be with Laura
and me will do your manners good. It is easy to see that you are always
thinking about yourself. Don't blush and stammer--almost all young men
are always thinking about themselves. My sons and grandsons always were
until I cured them. Come here, and let us teach you to behave properly;
you will not have to carve, that is done at the side-table. Hecker will
give you as much wine as is good for you; and on days when you are very
good and amusing you shall have some champagne. Hecker, mind what I
say. Mr. Pendennis is Miss Laura's brother; and you will make him
comfortable, and see that he does not have too much wine, or disturb
me whilst I am taking my nap after dinner. You are selfish: I intend
to cure you of being selfish. You will dine here when you have no other
engagements; and if it rains you had better put up at the hotel." As
long as the good lady could order everybody round about her, she was not
hard to please; and all the slaves and subjects of her little dowager
court trembled before her, but loved her.

She did not receive a very numerous or brilliant society. The doctor, of
course, was admitted as a constant and faithful visitor; the vicar and
his curate; and on public days the vicar's wife and daughters, and some
of the season visitors at Baymouth, were received at the old lady's
entertainments: but generally the company was a small one, and Mr.
Arthur drank his wine by himself, when Lady Rockminster retired to take
her doze, and to be played and sung to sleep by Laura after dinner.

"If my music can give her a nap," said the good-natured girl,