d met in the world of fashion which he frequented. The
little lord slept all night through, in spite of the squeezing, and
the horn-blowing, and the widow; and he looked as fresh as paint (and,
indeed; pronounced himself to be so) when the Major, with a yellow face,
a bristly beard, a wig out of curl, and strong rheumatic griefs shooting
through various limbs of his uneasy body, descended at the little
lodge-gate at Fairoaks, where the porteress and gardener's wife
reverentially greeted him, and, still more respectfully, Mr. Morgan, his
man.

Helen was on the look-out for this expected guest, and saw him from her
window. But she did not come forward immediately to greet him. She knew
the Major did not like to be seen at a surprise, and required a little
preparation before he cared to be visible. Pen, when a boy, had incurred
sad disgrace by carrying off from the Major's dressing-table a little
morocco box, which it must be confessed contained the Major's back
teeth, which he naturally would leave out of his jaws in a jolting
mail-coach, and without which he would not choose to appear. Morgan,
his man, made a mystery of mystery of his wigs: curling them in private
places: introducing them mysteriously to his master's room;--nor without
his head of hair would the Major care to show himself to any member
of his family, or any acquaintance. He went to his apartment then and
supplied these deficiencies; he groaned, and moaned, and wheezed, and
cursed Morgan through his toilet, as an old buck will, who has been up
all night with a rheumatism, and has a long duty to perform. And
finally being belted, curled, and set straight, he descended upon the
drawing-room, with a grave majestic air, such as befitted one who was at
once a man of business and a man of fashion.

Pen was not there, however; only Helen, and little Laura sewing at her
knees; and to whom he never presented more than a forefinger, as he did
on this occasion after saluting his sister-in-law. Laura took the finger
trembling and dropped it--and then fled out of the room. Major Pendennis
did not want to keep her, or indeed to have her in the house at all, and
had his private reason for disapproving of her: which we may mention on
some future occasion. Meanwhile Laura disappeared and wandered about
the premises seeking for Pen: whom she presently found in the orchard,
pacing up and down a walk there in earnest conversation with Mr. Smirke.
He was so occupied that he