ar off--it sits prettily enough on a young
patrician in early life, though nothing is so loathsome among persons
of our rank--Mr. Broadbent seems to have much eloquence and considerable
reading your friend Foker is always delightful: but your acquaintance,
Mr. Bloundell, struck me as in all respects a most ineligible young
man."

"Bless my soul, sir, Bloundell-Bloundell!" cried Pen, laughing; "why,
sir, he's the most popular man of the university. We elected him of
the Barmecides the first week he came up--had a special meeting on
purpose--he's of an excellent family--Suffolk Bloundells, descended from
Richard's Blondel, bear a harp in chief--and motto O Mong Roy."

"A man may have a very good coat-of-arms, and be a tiger, my boy," the
Major said, chipping his egg; "that man is a tiger, mark my word--a low
man. I will lay a wager that he left his regiment, which was a good one
(for a more respectable man than my friend Lord Martingale never sate in
a saddle), in bad odour. There is the unmistakable look of slang and bad
habits about this Mr. Bloundell. He frequents low gambling-houses and
billiard-hells, sir--he haunts third-rate clubs--I know he does. I know
by his style. I never was mistaken in my man yet. Did you remark the
quantity of rings and jewellery he wore? That person has Scamp written
on his countenance, if any man ever had. Mark my words and avoid him.
Let us turn the conversation. The dinner was a leetle too fine, but I
don't object to your making a few extra frais when you receive friends.
Of course, you don't do it often, and only those whom it is your
interest to feter. The cutlets were excellent, and the souffle
uncommonly light and good. The third bottle of champagne was not
necessary; but you have a good income, and as long as you keep within
it, I shall not quarrel with you, my dear boy."

Poor Pen! the worthy uncle little knew how often those dinners took
place, while the reckless young Amphitryon delighted to show his
hospitality and skill in gourmandise. There is no art than that (so long
to learn, so difficult to acquire, so impossible and beyond the means of
many unhappy people!) about which boys are more anxious to have an air
of knowingness. A taste and knowledge of wines and cookery appears to
them to be the sign of an accomplished roue and manly gentleman. I
like to see them wink at a glass of claret, as if they had an intimate
acquaintance with it, and discuss a salmi--poor boys--it is o