of the Madeira from
the Grapes, with an eager shaking hand. The Major came up to the table,
and took up his glass and drained it with a jovial smack. If it had been
Lord Steyne's particular, and not public-house Cape, he could not have
appeared to relish it more.

"Capital Madeira, Captain Costigan," he said. "Where do you get it? I
drink the health of that charming creature in a bumper. Faith, Captain,
I don't wonder that the men are wild about her. I never saw such eyes in
my life, or such a grand manner. I am sure she is as intellectual as she
is beautiful; and I have no doubt she's as good as she is clever."

"A good girl, sir,--a good girl, sir," said the delighted father; "and
I pledge a toast to her with all my heart. Shall I send to the--to the
cellar for another pint? It's handy by. No? Well, indeed sir, ye may say
she is a good girl, and the pride and glory of her father--honest old
Jack Costigan. The man who gets her will have a jew'l to a wife, sir;
and I drink his health, sir, and ye know who I mean, Major."

"I am not surprised at young or old falling in love with her," said the
Major, "and frankly must tell you, that though I was very angry with my
poor nephew Arthur, when I heard of the boy's passion--now I have seen
the lady I can pardon him any extent of it. By George, I should like to
enter for the race myself, if I weren't an old fellow and a poor one."

"And no better man, Major, I'm sure," cried Jack enraptured.

"Your friendship, sir, delights me. Your admiration for my girl brings
tears to me eyes--tears, sir--manlee tears--and when she leaves me
humble home for your own more splendid mansion, I hope she'll keep a
place for her poor old father, poor old Jack Costigan."--The Captain
suited the action to the word, and his bloodshot eyes were suffused with
water, as he addressed the Major.

"Your sentiments do you honour," the other said. "But, Captain Costigan,
I can't help smiling at one thing you have just said."

"And what's that, sir?" asked Jack, who was at a too heroic and
sentimental pitch to descend from it. You were speaking about our
splendid mansion--my sister's house, I mean.

"I mane the park and mansion of Arthur Pendennis, Esquire, of Fairoaks
Park, whom I hope to see a Mimber of Parliament for his native town of
Clavering, when he is of ege to take that responsible stetion," cried
the Captain with much dignity.

The Major smiled as he recognised a shaft of his own bow. It