n,
and, as it appears to me, as good an actress as ever put on rouge. She
does Ophelia, Lady Teazle, Mrs. Haller--that sort of thing. Upon my
word, she is as splendid as Georges in her best days, and as far as I
know, utterly superior to anything we have on our scene. I want a London
engagement for her. Can't you get your friend Dolphin to come and see
her--to engage her--to take her out of this place? A word from a noble
friend of ours (you understand) would be invaluable, and if you could
get the Gaunt House interest for me--I will promise anything I can in
return for your service--which I shall consider one of the greatest that
can be done to me. Do, do this now as a good fellow, which I always said
you were: and in return, command yours truly, A. Pendennis."

"It's a clear case," said Mr. Wenham, having read this letter; "old
Pendennis is in love."

"And wants to get the woman up to London--evidently," continued Mr.
Wagg.

"I should like to see Pendennis on his knees, with the rheumatism," said
Mr. Wenham.

"Or accommodating the beloved object with a lock of his hair," said
Wagg.

"Stuff." said the great man. "He has relations in the country, hasn't
he? He said something about a nephew, whose interest could return a
member. It is the nephew's affair, depend on it. The young one is in
a scrape. I was myself--when I was in the fifth form at Eton--a
market-gardener's daughter--and swore I'd marry her. I was mad about
her--poor Polly!"--here he made a pause, and perhaps the past rose up to
Lord Steyne, and George Gaunt was a boy again not altogether lost.--"But
I say, she must be a fine woman from Pendennis's account. Have in
Dolphin, and let us hear if he knows anything of her."

At this Wenham sprang out of the box, passed the servitor who waited at
the door communicating with the stage, and who saluted Mr. Wenham with
profound respect; and the latter emissary, pushing on and familiar
with the place, had no difficulty in finding out the manager, who was
employed, as he not unfrequently was, in swearing and cursing the ladies
of the corps-de-ballet for not doing their duty.

The oaths died away on Mr. Dolphin's lips, as soon as he saw Mr. Wenham;
and he drew off the hand which was clenched in the face of one of
the offending coryphees, to grasp that of the new-comer. "How do, Mr.
Wenham? How's his lordship to-night? Looks uncommonly well," said the
manager smiling, as if he had never been out of temper in his