The History of Pendennis, Volume 2

by William Makepeace Thackeray

  CHAPTER XXXVI.

  A CHAPTER OF MATCH-MAKING.

  Upon the platform at Tunbridge, Pen fumed and fretted until thearrival of the evening train to London, a full half-hour--six hours itseemed to him: but even this immense interval was passed, the trainarrived, the train sped on, the London lights came in view--agentleman who forgot his carpet-bag in the train rushed at a cab, andsaid to the man, "Drive as hard as you can go to Jermyn-street." Thecabman, although a Hansom cabman, said thank you for the gratuitywhich was put into his hand, and Pen ran up the stairs of the hotel toLady Rockminster's apartments. Laura was alone in the drawing-room,reading, with a pale face, by the lamp. The pale face looked up whenPen opened the door. May we follow him? The great moments of life arebut moments like the others. Your doom is spoken in a word or two. Asingle look from the eyes: a mere pressure of the hand may decide it;or of the lips, though they can not speak.

  When Lady Rockminster, who has had her after-dinner nap, gets up andgoes into her sitting-room, we may enter with her ladyship.

  "Upon my word, young people!" are the first words she says, and herattendant makes wondering eyes over her shoulder. And well may she sayso; and well may the attendant cast wondering eyes; for the youngpeople are in an attitude; and Pen in such a position as every younglady who reads this has heard tell of, or has seen, or hopes, or atany rate deserves to see.

  In a word, directly he entered the room, Pen went up to Laura of thepale face, who had not time even to say, What, back so soon? andseizing her outstretched and trembling hand just as she was risingfrom her chair, fell down on his knees before her, and said quickly,"I have seen her. She has engaged herself to Harry Foker--and--andNOW, Laura?"

  The hand gives a pressure--the eyes beam a reply--the quivering lipsanswer, though speechless. Pen's head sinks down in the girl's lap, ashe sobs out, "Come and bless us, dear mother," and arms as tender asHelen's once more enfold him.

  In this juncture it is that Lady Rockminster comes in and says, "Uponmy word, young people! Beck! leave the room. What do _you_ want pokingyour nose in here?"

  Pen starts up with looks of triumph, still holding Laura's hand. "Sheis consoling me for my misfortune, ma'am," he says.

  "What do you mean by kissing her hand? I don't know what you will benext doing."

  Pen kissed her ladyship's. "_I_ have been, to Tunbridge," he says,"and seen Miss Amory; and find on my arrival that--that a villain hassupplanted me in her affections," he says with a tragedy air.

  "Is that all? Is that what you were whimpering on your knees about?"says the old lady, growing angry. "You might have kept the news tillto-morrow."

  "Yes--another has superseded me," goes on Pen; "but why call himvillain? He is brave, he is constant, he is young, he is wealthy, heis beautiful."

  "What stuff are you talking, sir?" cried the old lady. "What hashappened?"

  "Miss Amory has jilted me, and accepted Henry Foker, Esq. I found herwarbling ditties to him as he lay at her feet; presents had beenaccepted, vows exchanged, these ten days. Harry was old Mrs. Planter'srheumatism, which kept dearest Laura out of the house. He is the mostconstant and generous of men. He has promised the living of Logwood toLady Ann's husband, and given her a splendid present on her marriage;and he rushed to fling himself at Blanche's feet the instant he foundhe was free."

  "And so, as you can't get Blanche, you put up with Laura, is that it,sir?" asked the old lady.

  "He acted nobly," Laura said.

  "I acted as she bade me," said Pen. "Never mind how, Lady Rockminster;but to the best of my knowledge and power. And if you mean that I amnot worthy of Laura, I know it, and pray Heaven to better me; and ifthe love and company of the best and purest creature in the world cando so, at least I shall have these to help me."

  "Hm, hm," replied the old lady to this, looking with ratheran appeased air at the young people. "It is all very well; but Ishould have preferred Bluebeard."

  And now Pen, to divert the conversation from a theme which was growingpainful to some parties present, bethought him of his interview withHuxter in the morning, and of Fanny Bolton's affairs, which he hadforgotten under the immediate pressure and excitement of his own. Andhe told the ladies how Huxter had elevated Fanny to the rank of wife,and what terrors he was in respecting the arrival of his father. Hedescribed the scene with considerable humor, taking care to dwellespecially upon that part of it which concerned Fanny's coquetry andirrepressible desire of captivating mankind; his meaning being "Yousee, Laura, I was not so guilty in that little affair; it was the girlwho made love to me, and I who resisted. As I am no longer present,the little siren practices her arts and fascinations upon others. Letthat transaction be forgotten in your mind, if you please; or visit mewith a very gentle punishment for my error."

  Laura understood his meaning under the eagerness of his explanations."If you did any wrong, you repented, dear Pen," she said, "and youknow," she added, with meaning eyes and blushes, "that _I_ have noright to reproach you."

  "Hm!" grumbled the old lady; "I should have preferred Bluebeard."

  "The past is broken away. The morrow is before us. I will do my bestto make your morrow happy, dear Laura," Pen said. His heart washumbled by the prospect of his happiness: it stood awe-stricken in thecontemplation of her sweet goodness and purity. He liked his wifebetter that she had owned to that passing feeling for Warrington, andlaid bare her generous heart to him. And she--very likely she wasthinking "How strange it is that I ever should have cared for another;I am vexed almost to think I care for him so little, am so littlesorry that he is gone away. Oh, in these past two months how I havelearned to love Arthur. I care about nothing but Arthur; my waking andsleeping thoughts are about him; he is never absent from me. And tothink that he is to be mine, mine! and that I am to marry him, and notto be his servant as I expected to be only this morning; for I wouldhave gone down on my knees to Blanche to beg her to let me live withhim. And now--Oh, it is too much. Oh, mother! mother, that you werehere!" Indeed, she felt as if Helen were there--by her actually,though invisibly. A halo of happiness beamed from her. She moved witha different step, and bloomed with a new beauty. Arthur saw thechange; and the old Lady Rockminster remarked it with her shrewd eyes.

  "What a sly, demure little wretch you have been," she whispered toLaura--while Pen, in great spirits, was laughing, and telling hisstory about Huxter--"and how you have kept your secret!"

  "How are we to help the young couple?" said Laura. Of course MissLaura felt an interest in all young couples, as generous lovers alwayslove other lovers.

  "We must go and see them," said Pen. "Of course we must go and seethem," said Laura. "I intend to be very fond of Fanny. Let us go thisinstant. Lady Rockminster, may I have the carriage?"

  "Go now!--why, you stupid creature, it is eleven o'clock at night. Mr.and Mrs. Huxter have got their night-caps on, I daresay. And it istime for you to go now. Good-night, Mr. Pendennis."

  Arthur and Laura begged for ten minutes more.

  "We will go to-morrow morning, then. I will come and fetch you withMartha."

  "An earl's coronet," said Pen, who, no doubt, was pleased himself,"will have a great effect in Lamb-court and Smithfield. Stay--LadyRockminster, will you join us in a little conspiracy?"

  "How do you mean conspiracy, young man?"

  "Will you please to be a little ill to-morrow; and when old Mr. Huxterarrives, will you let me call him in? If he is put into a good humorat the notion of attending a baronet in the country, what influencewon't a countess have on him? When he is softened--when he is quiteripe, we will break the secret upon him; bring in the young people,extort the paternal benediction, and finish the comedy."

  "A parcel of stuff," said the old lady. "Take your hat, sir. Comeaway, Miss. There--my head is turned another way. Good-night, youngpeople." And who knows but the old lady thought of her own early daysas she went away on Laura's arm, nodding her head and hummingto herself?

  With the early morning came Laura and Martha, according t
oappointment; and the desired sensation was, let us hope, effected inLamb-court, whence the three proceeded to wait upon Mr. and Mrs.Samuel Huxter, at their residence in Charterhouse-lane.

  The two ladies looked at each other with great interest, and not alittle emotion on Fanny's part. She had not seen her "guardian," asshe was pleased to call Pen in consequence of his bequest, since theevent had occurred which had united her to Mr. Huxter.

  "Samuel told me how kind you had been," she said. "You were alwaysvery kind, Mr. Pendennis. And--and I hope your friend is better, whowas took ill in Shepherd's Inn, ma'am."

  "My name is Laura," said the other, with a blush. "I am--that is, Iwas--that is, I am Arthur's sister; and we shall always love you forbeing so good to him when he was ill. And when we live in the country,I hope we shall see each other. And I shall be always happy to hear ofyour happiness, Fanny."

  "We are going to do what you and Huxter have done, Fanny.--Where isHuxter? What nice, snug lodgings you've got! What a pretty cat!"

  While Fanny is answering these questions in reply to Pen, Laura saysto herself--"Well, now really! is _this_ the creature about whom wewere all so frightened? What _could_ he see in her? She's a homelylittle thing, but such manners! Well, she was very kind to him--blessher for that." Mr. Samuel had gone out to meet his pa. Mrs. Huxtersaid that the old gentleman was to arrive that day at the Somersetcoffee-house, in the Strand; and Fanny confessed that she was in a sadtremor about the meeting. "If his parents cast him off, what are we todo?" she said. "I shall never pardon myself for bringing ruing on my'usband's 'ead. You must intercede for us, Mr. Arthur. If mortal mancan, you can bend and influence Mr. Huxter senior." Fanny stillregarded Pen in the light of a superior being, that was evident. Nodoubt Arthur thought of the past, as he marked the solemn littletragedy-airs and looks, the little ways, the little trepidations,vanities, of the little bride. As soon as the interview was over,entered Messrs. Linton and Blades, who came, of course, to visitHuxter, and brought with them a fine fragrance of tobacco. They hadwatched the carriage at the baker's door, and remarked the coronetwith awe. They asked of Fanny who was that uncommonly heavy swell whohad just driven off? and pronounced the countess was of the rightsort. And when they heard that it was Mr. Pendennis and his sister,they remarked that Pen's father was only a sawbones; and that he gavehimself confounded airs: they had been in Huxter's company on thenight of his little altercation with Pen in the Back Kitchen.

  Returning homeward through Fleet-street, and as Laura was just statingto Pen's infinite amusement that Fanny was very well, but that reallythere was no beauty in her--there might be, but _she_ could not seeit--as they were locked near Temple-bar, they saw young Huxterreturning to his bride. "The governor had arrived; was at the Somersetcoffee-house--was in tolerable good humor--something about therailway: but he had been afraid to speak about--about that business.Would Mr. Pendennis try it on?"

  Pen said he would go and call at that moment upon Mr. Huxter, and seewhat might be done. Huxter junior would lurk outside while that awfulinterview took place. The coronet on the carriage inspired his soulalso with wonder; and old Mr. Huxter himself beheld it with delight,as he looked from the coffee-house window on that Strand, which it wasalways a treat to him to survey.

  "And I can afford to give myself a lark, sir," said Mr. Huxter,shaking hands with Pen. "Of course you know the news? We have got ourbill, sir. We shall have our branch line--our shares are up, sir--andwe buy your three fields along the Brawl, and put a pretty penny into_your_ pocket, Mr. Pendennis."

  "Indeed! that was good news." Pen remembered that there was a letterfrom Mr. Tatham, at Chambers, these three days; but he had not openedthe communication, being interested with other affairs.

  "I hope you don't intend to grow rich, and give up practice," saidPen. "We can't lose you at Clavering, Mr. Huxter; though I hear verygood accounts of your son. My friend, Dr. Goodenough, speaks mosthighly of his talents. It is hard that a man of your eminence, though,should be kept in a country town."

  "The metropolis would have been my sphere of action, sir," said Mr.Huxter, surveying the Strand. "But a man takes his business where hefinds it; and I succeeded to that of my father."

  "It was my father's, too," said Pen. "I sometimes wish I had followedit."

  "You, sir, have taken a more lofty career," said the old gentleman."You aspire to the senate: and to literary honors. You wield thepoet's pen, sir, and move in the circles of fashion. We keep an eyeupon you at Clavering. We read your name in the lists of the selectparties of the nobility. Why, it was only the other day that my wifewas remarking how odd it was that at a party at the Earl ofKidderminster's your name was _not_ mentioned. To what member of thearistocracy may I ask does that equipage belong from which I saw youdescend? The Countess Dowager of Rockminster? How is her ladyship?"

  "Her ladyship is not very well; and when I heard that you were comingto town, I strongly urged her to see you, Mr. Huxter," Pen said. OldHuxter felt, if he had a hundred votes for Clavering, he would givethem all to Pen.

  "There is an old friend of yours in the carriage--a Clavering lady,too--will you come out and speak to her?" asked Pen. The old surgeonwas delighted to speak to a coroneted carriage in the midst of thefull Strand: he ran out bowing and smiling. Huxter junior, dodgingabout the district, beheld the meeting between his father and Laura,saw the latter put out her hand, and presently, after a littlecolloquy with Pen, beheld his father actually jump into the carriage,and drive away with Miss Bell.

  There was no room for Arthur, who came back, laughing, to the youngsurgeon, and told him whither his parent was bound. During the wholeof the journey, that artful Laura coaxed and wheedled, and cajoled himso adroitly, that the old gentleman would have granted her any thing;and Lady Rockminster achieved the victory over him by complimentinghim on his skill, and professing her anxiety to consult him. What wereher ladyship's symptoms? Should he meet her ladyship's usual medicalattendant? Mr. Jones was called out of town? He should be delighted todevote his very best energies and experience to her ladyship's service.

  He was so charmed with his patient, that he wrote home about her tohis wife and family; he talked of nothing but Lady Rockminster toSamuel, when that youth came to partake of beef-steak and oyster-sauceand accompany his parent to the play. There was a simple grandeur, apolite urbanity, a high-bred grace about her ladyship, which he hadnever witnessed in any woman. Her symptoms did not seem alarming; hehad prescribed--Spir:Ammon:Aromat: with a little Spir:Menth:Pip:and orange-flower, which would be all that was necessary.

  "Miss Bell seemed to be on the most confidential and affectionatefooting with her ladyship. She was about to form a matrimonialconnection. All young people ought to marry. Such were her ladyship'swords: and the countess condescended to ask respecting my own family,and I mentioned you by name to her ladyship, Sam, my boy. I shall lookin to-morrow, when, if the remedies which I have prescribed for herladyship have had the effect which I anticipate, I shall probablyfollow them up by a little Spir: Lavend: Comp:--and so set my noblepatient up. What is the theater which is most frequented by the--bythe higher classes in town, hey, Sam? and to what amusement will youtake an old country doctor to-night, hey, sir?"

  On the next day, when Mr. Huxter called in Jermyn-street at twelveo'clock, Lady Rockminster had not yet left her room, but Miss Bell andMr. Pendennis were in waiting to receive him. Lady Rockminster hadhad a most comfortable night, and was getting on as well as possible.How had Mr. Huxter amused himself? at the theater? with his son? Whata capital piece it was, and how charming Mrs. O'Leary looked and sangit! and what a good fellow young Huxter was! liked by every body, anhonor to his profession. He has not his father's manners, I grant you,or that old-world tone which is passing away from us, but a moreexcellent, sterling fellow never lived. "He ought to practice in thecountry whatever you do, sir," said Arthur, "he ought to marry--otherpeople are going to do so--and settle."

  "The very words that her ladyship used yesterday, Mr. Pendennis Heought to
marry. Sam should marry, sir."

  "The town is full of temptations, sir," continued Pen. The oldgentleman thought of that houri, Mrs. O'Leary.

  "There is no better safeguard for a young man than an early marriagewith an honest affectionate creature."

  "No better, sir, no better."

  "And love is better than money, isn't it?"

  "Indeed it is," said Miss Bell.

  "I agree with so fair an authority," said the old gentleman with abow.

  "And--and suppose, sir," Pen said, "that I had a piece of news tocommunicate to you."

  "God bless my soul, Mr. Pendennis! what do you mean?" asked the oldgentleman.

  "Suppose I had to tell you that a young man carried away by anirresistible passion for an admirable and most virtuous youngcreature--whom every body falls in love with--had consulted thedictates of reason and his heart, and had married. Suppose I were totell you that that man is my friend; that our excellent, our trulynoble friend the Countess Dowager of Rockminster is truly interestedabout him (and you may fancy what a young man can do in life when THATfamily is interested for him); suppose I were to tell you that youknow him--that he is here--that he is--"

  "Sam, married! God bless my soul, sir, you don't mean that!"

  "And to such a nice creature, dear Mr. Huxter."

  "His lordship is charmed with her," said Pen, telling almost the firstfib which he has told in the course of this story.

  "Married! the rascal, is he?" thought the old gentleman. "They will doit, sir," said Pen; and went and opened the door. Mr. and Mrs. SamuelHuxter issued thence, and both came and knelt down before the oldgentleman. The kneeling little Fanny found favor in his sight. There_must_ have been something attractive about her, in spite ofLaura's opinion.

  "Will never do so any more, sir," said Sam.

  "Get up, sir," said Mr. Huxter. And they got up, and Fanny came alittle nearer and a little nearer still, and looked so pretty andpitiful, that somehow Mr. Huxter found himself kissing the littlecrying-laughing thing, and feeling as if he liked it.

  "What's your name, my dear?" he said, after a minute of this sport.

  "Fanny, papa," said Mrs. Samuel.