B.'s foot under the table. He seemed to have forgotten
that he was about to speak of Clive's mother.
"Hem! of your poor mother, I--hem--I may say vidi tantum. I scarcely knew
her. She married very young: as I was when she left Borhambury. But
Charles exhibited his character at a very early age--and it was not a
charming one--no, by no means a model of virtue. He always had a genius
for running into debt. He borrowed from every one of the pupils--I don't
know how he spent it except in hardbake and alycompaine--and even from
old Nosey's groom,--pardon me, we used to call your grandfather by that
playful epithet (boys will be boys, you know),--even from the doctor's
groom he took money, and I recollect thrashing Charles Honeyman for that
disgraceful action.
"At college, without any particular show, he was always in debt and
difficulties. Take warning by him, dear youth! By him and by me, if you
like. See me--me, F. Bayham, descended from the ancient kings that long
the Tuscan sceptre swayed, dodge down a street to get out of sight of a
boot-shop, and my colossal frame tremble if a chap puts his hand on my
shoulder, as you did, Pendennis, the other day in the Strand, when I
thought a straw might have knocked me down! I have had my errors, Clive.
Pages:
579
580
581
582
583
584
585
586
587
588
589
590
591
592
593
594
595
596
597
598
599
600
601
602
603