"Don't you think we could get up races at Clavering, mamma?" Miss Amory asked. "Yes, we must have them there again. There were races there in the old times, the good old times. It's a national amusement you know: and we could have a Clavering ball: and we might have dances for the tenantry, and rustic sports in the park—Oh, it would he charming."
"Capital fun," said mamma. "Wouldn't it, major?"
"The turf is a very expensive amusement, my dear lady," Major Pendennis answered, with such a rueful face, that the Begum rallied him, and asked laughingly whether he had lost money on the race?
After a slumber of about an hour and a half, the heir of the house began to exhibit symptoms of wakefulness, stretching his youthful arms over the major's face, and kicking his sister's knees as she sate opposite to him. When the amiable youth was quite restored to consciousness, he began a sprightly conversation.
"I say, ma," he said, "I've gone and done it this time, I have." "What have you gone and done, Franky, dear?" asked mamma. "How much is seventeen half-crowns?" "Two pound and half-a-crown, ain't it? I drew Borax in our lottery, but I bought Podasokus and Man-milliner of Leggat minor for two open tarts and a bottle of ginger beer."
"You little wicked gambling creature, how dare you begin so soon?" cried Miss Amory.
"Hold your tongue, if you please. Who ever asked your leave, miss?" the brother said. "And I say, ma—"
"Well, Franky, dear?"
"You'll tip me all the same, you know, when I go back—" and here he broke out into a laugh. "I say, ma, shall I tell you something?"
The Begum expressed her desire to hear this something, and her son and heir continued: