“The very words that her Ladyship used yesterday, Mr. Pendennis. He ought to marry. Sam should marry, sir.”
“The town is full of temptations, sir,” continued Pen. The old gentleman thought of that houri, Mrs. O’Leary.
“There is no better safeguard for a young man than an early marriage with 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 a bow.
“And—and suppose, sir,” Pen said, “that I had a piece of news to communicate to you.”
“God bless my soul, Mr. Pendennis! what do you mean?” asked the old gentleman.
“Suppose I had to tell you that a young man, carried away by an irresistible passion for an admirable and most virtuous young creature—whom everybody falls in love with—had consulted the dictates of reason and his heart, and had married. Suppose I were to tell you that that man is my friend; that our excellent, our truly noble friend the Countess Dowager of Rockminster is truly interested about him (and you may fancy what a young man can do in life when THAT family is interested for him); suppose I were to tell you that you know him—that he is here—that he is——”