alter it, as the flinging of a pebble may end it. Who can weigh circumstances, passions, temptations, that go to our good and evil account, save One, before whose awful wisdom we kneel, and at whose mercy we ask absolution? Here it ends,” thought Pen; "this day or to-morrow will wind up the account of my youth; a weary retrospect, alas! a sad history, with many a page I would fain not look back on! But who has not been tired or fallen, and who has escaped without scars from that struggle?" And his head fell on his breast, and the young man's heart prostrated itself humbly and sadly before that Throne where sits wisdom, and love, and pity for all, and made its confession. "What matters about fame or poverty?" he thought. "If I marry this woman I have chosen, may I have strength and will to be true to her, and to make her happy! If I have children, pray God teach me to speak and to do the truth among them, and to leave them an honest name. There are no splendors for my marriage. Does my life deserve any? I begin a new phase of it; a better than the last may it be, I pray Heaven!"

The train stopped at Tunbridge as Pen was making these reflections; and he handed over the newspaper to his neighbor, of whom he took leave, while the foreign clergyman in the opposite corner still sat with his eyes on his book. jumped out of the carriage then, his carpet-bag in hand, and briskly determined to face his fortune.

Pen

A fly carried him rapidly to Lady Clavering's house from the station; and, as he was transported thither, Arthur composed a little speech, which he intended to address to Blanche, and which was really as virtuous, honest, and well-minded an oration as any man of his turn of mind, and under his circumstances, could have uttered. The purport of it was "Blanche, I cannot understand from your last letter what your meaning is, or whether my fair and frank proposal to you is acceptable or I think you know the reason which induces me to forego the worldly advantages which a union with you offered, and which I could not accept without, as I fancy, being dishonored. If you doubt of my affection, here I am ready to prove it. Let Smirke be called in, and let us be married out of hand; and with all my heart I purpose to keep my vow, and to cherish you through life, and to be a true and a loving husband to you."

no.

From the fly Arthur sprang out then to the hall-door, where he was met by a domestic whom he did not know. The man seemed to be surprised at the approach of the gentleman with the carpet-bag, which he made no attempt to take

from Arthur's hands. man remarked.

"Her ladyship's not at home, sir," the "I am Mr. Pendennis," Arthur said. "Where is Light

foot?"

"Lightfoot is gone," answered the man. "My Lady is out, and my orders was

"I hear Miss Amory's voice in the drawing-room," said Arthur. Take the bag to a dressing-room, if you please;" and. passing by the porter, he walked straight towards that apartment, from which, as the door opened, a warble of melodious notes issued.

Our little Siren was at her piano, singing with all her might and fascinations. Master Clavering was asleep on the sofa, indifferent to the music; but near Blanche sat a gentleman who was perfectly enraptured with her strain, which was of a passionate and melancholy nature.

As the door opened, the gentleman started up with a Hullo! the music stopped, with a little shriek from the singer; Frank Clavering woke up from the sofa, and Arthur came forward and said, "What, Foker! how do you do, Foker?" He looked at the piano, and there, by Miss Amory's side, was just such another purple-leather box as he had seen in Harry's hand three days before, when the heir of Logwood was coming out of a jeweller's shop in Waterloo Place. It was opened, and curled round the white satin cushion within was, oh, such a magnificent serpentine bracelet, with such a blazing ruby head and diamond tail!

"How de-do, Pendennis?" said Foker. Blanche made many motions of the shoulders, and gave signs of interest and agitation. And she put her handkerchief over the bracelet, and then she advanced, with a hand which trembled very much, to greet Pen.

How is dearest Laura?" she said. The face of Foker looking up from his profound mourning- that face, so piteous and puzzled, was one which the reader's imagination must depict for himself; also that of Master Frank Clavering, who, looking at the three interesting individuals with an expression of the utmost knowingness, had only time to ejaculate the words, "Here's a jolly go!" and to disappear sniggering.

Pen, too, had restrained himself up to that minute; but looking still at Foker, whose ears and cheeks tingled with blushes, Arthur burst out into a fit of laughter, so wild and loud, that it frightened Blanche much more than any the most serious exhibition.

"And this was the secret, was it? Don't blush and turn away, Foker, my boy. Why, man, you are a pattern of fidelity. Could I stand between Blanche and such constancy could I stand between Miss Amory and fifteen thousand a year?"

66

66

"It is not that, Mr. Pendennis," Blanche said, with great dignity. It is not money, it is not rank, it is not gold that moves me; but it is constancy, it is fidelity, it is a whole trustful loving heart offered to me, that I treasure - yes, that I treasure!" And she made for her handkerchief, but, reflecting what was underneath it, she paused. "I do not disown, I do not disguise — my life is above disguise to him on whom it is bestowed, my heart must be forever bare that I once thought I loved you, - yes, thought I was beloved by you!I own. How I clung to that faith! How I strove, I prayed, I longed to believe it! But your conduct always your own words so cold, so heartless, so unkind, have undeceived me. You trifled with the heart of the poor maiden! You flung me back with scorn the troth which I had plighted! explained all-all to Mr. Foker."

I have

"That you have," said Foker, with devotion, and conviction in his looks.

I

"What! all?" said Pen, with a meaning look at Blanche. "It is I am in fault, is it? Well, well, Blanche, be it so. I won't appeal against your sentence, and bear it in silence. came down here looking to very different things, Heaven knows, and with a heart most truly and kindly disposed towards you. I hope you may be happy with another, as, on my word, it was my wish to make you so; and I hope my honest old friend here will have a wife worthy of his loyalty, his constancy, and affection. Indeed they deserve the regard of any woman even Miss Blanche Amory. Shake hands, Harry; don't look askance at me. Has anybody told you that I was a false and heartless character?"

"You're an angel, by Jove, you're an angel!" said Foker, at which Blanche looked seraphically up to the chandelier.

"In spite of what has passed, for the sake of what has passed, I must always regard Arthur as a brother," the seraph continued ; 66 we have known each other years, we have trodden the same fields, and plucked the same flowers together. Ar

thur! Henry! I beseech you to take hands and to be friends! Forgive you! I forgive you, Arthur, with my heart I do. Should I not do so for making me so happy?"

"There is only one person of us three whom I pity, Blanche,” Arthur said gravely; and I say to you again, that I hope you will make this good fellow, this honest and loyal creature, happy."

He could not speak. "She don't know

- and who am I? a

Happy! O Heavens!" said Harry. His happiness gushed out at his eyes. she can't know how fond I am of her, and poor little beggar, and she takes me up and says she'll try and 1-1-love me. I ain't worthy of so much happiness. Give us your hand, old boy, since she forgives you after your heartless conduct, and says she loves you. I'll make you welcome. I tell you I'll love everybody who loves her. By if she tells me to kiss the ground I'll kiss it. Tell me to kiss the ground! I say, tell me. I love you so. You see I love you so.’

Blanche looked up seraphically again. Her gentle bosom heaved. She held out one hand as if to bless Harry, and then royally permitted him to kiss it. She took up the pockethandkerchief and hid her own eyes, as the other fair hand was abandoned to poor Harry's tearful embrace.

"I swear that is a villain who deceives such a loving creature as that," said Pen.

66

Blanche laid down the handkerchief, and put hand No. 2 softly on Foker's head, which was bent down kissing and weeping over hand No. 1. Foolish boy," she said, loved as it deserves: who could help loving such a silly creature?"

66 it shall be

And at this moment Frank Clavering burst in upon the sentimental trio.

"I say, Pendennis," he said.

66

beer."

Well, Frank!"

"The man wants to be paid, and go back. He's had some "I'll go back with him," cried Pen. "Good-by, Blanche. God bless you, Foker, old friend. You know neither of you want me here." He longed to be off that instant.

"Stay I must say one word to you. One word in private, if you please," Blanche said. "You can trust us together, can't you, Henry?" The tone in which the word Henry was spoken, and the appeal, ravished Foker with delight. "Trust you!" said he. Oh, who wouldn't trust you! Come along, Franky, my boy."

66

hall.

"Let's have a cigar," said Frank, as they went into the

"She don't like it," said Foker, gently.

"Law bless you - she don't mind.

Pendennis used to

smoke regular," said the candid youth.

"It was but a short word I had to say," said Blanche to Pen, with great calm, when they were alone.

loved me, Mr. Pendennis."

66

"You never

"I told you how much," said Arthur. "I never deceived you."

"I suppose you will go back and marry Laura," continued Blanche.

"Was that what you had to say?" said Pen. "You are going to There is no denying it. 66 Et vous?"

her this very night, I am sure of it. You never cared for me.'

"Et moi, c'est différent. I have been spoilt early. I cannot live out of the world, out of excitement. I could have done so, but it is too late. If I cannot have emotions, I must have the world. You would offer me neither one nor the other. You are blasé in everything, even in ambition. You had a career before you, and you would not take it. You give it up! -for what? for a bétise, for an absurd scruple. Why would you not have that seat, and be such a puritain? Why should you refuse what is mine by right — by right, entendez-vous?" "You know all then? said Pen.

"Only within a month. But I have suspected ever since Baymouth- n'importe since when. It is not too late. He is as if he had never been; and there is a position in the world before you yet. Why not sit in Parliament, exert your talent, and give a place in the world to yourself, to your wife? I take celui-là. Il est bon. Il est riche. Il est -vous le connaissez autant que moi, enfin. Think you that I would not prefer un homme qui fera parler de moi? If the secret appears, I am rich à millions. How does it affect me? It is not my fault. It will never appear."

"You will tell Harry everything, won't you?" "Je comprends. Vous refusez," said Blanche, savagely. "I will tell Harry at my own time, when we are married. You will not betray me, will you? You, having a defenceless girl's secret, will not turn upon her and use it? S'il me plait de le cacher, mon secret; pourquoi le donnerai-je? Je l'aime, mon pauvre père, voyez-vous? I would rather live with that man