The History of Pendennis | Page 2

to me, the idea of entering into competition with M. Eugene Sue was abandoned. To describe a real rascal, you must make him so horrible that he would be too hideous to show; and unless the painter paints him fairly, I hold he has no right to show him at all.
Even the gentlemen of our age--this is an attempt to describe one of them, no better nor worse than most educated men--even these we cannot show as they are, with the notorious foibles and selfishness of their lives and their education. Since the author of Tom Jones was buried, no writer of fiction among us has been permitted to depict to his utmost power a MAN. We must drape him, and give him a certain conventional simper. Society will not tolerate the Natural in our Art. Many ladies have remonstrated and subscribers left me, because, in the course of the story, I described a young man resisting and affected by temptation.
My object was to say, that he had the passions to feel, and the manliness and generosity to overcome them. You will not hear--it is best to know it--what moves in the real world, what passes in society, in the clubs, colleges, mess-rooms,--what is the life and talk of your sons. A little more frankness than is customary has been attempted in this story; with no bad desire on the writer's part, it is hoped, and with no ill consequence to any reader. If truth is not always pleasant, at any rate truth is best, from whatever chair--from those whence graver writers or thinkers argue, as from that at which the story-teller sits as he concludes his labour, and bids his kind reader farewell.
Kensington, Nov. 26th, 1850.

CONTENTS

CHAPTER I
Shows how First Love may interrupt Breakfast II A Pedigree and other Family Matters III In which Pendennis appears as a very young Man indeed IV Mrs. Haller V Mrs. Haller at Home VI Contains both Love and War VII In which the Major makes his Appearance VIII In which Pen is kept waiting at the Door, while the Reader is informed who little Laura was IX In which the Major opens the Campaign X Facing the Enemy XI Negotiation XII In which a Shooting Match is proposed XIII A Crisis XIV In which Miss Fotheringay makes a new Engagement XV The Happy Village XVI More Storms in the Puddle XVII Which concludes the First Part of this History XVIII Alma Mater XIX Pendennis of Boniface XX Rake's Progress XXI Flight after Defeat XXII Prodigal's Return XXIII New Faces XXIV A Little Innocent XXV Contains both Love and Jealousy XXVI A House full of Visitors XXVII Contains some Ball-practising XXVIII Which is both Quarrelsome and Sentimental XXIX Babylon XXX The Knights of the Temple XXXI Old and New Acquaintances XXXII In which the Printer's Devil comes to the Door XXXIII Which is passed in the Neighbourhood of Ludgate Hill XXXIV In which the History still hovers about Fleet Street XXXV Dinner in the Row XXXVI The Pall Mall Gazette XXXVII Where Pen appears in Town and Country XXXVIII In which the Sylph reappears XXXIX In which Colonel Altamont appears and disappears XL Relates to Mr. Harry Foker's Affairs XLI Carries the Reader both to Richmond and Greenwich XLII Contains a Novel Incident XLIII Alsatia XLIV In which the Colonel narrates some of his Adventures XLV A Chapter of Conversations XLVI Miss Amory's Partners XLVII Monseigneur s'amuse XLVIII A Visit of Politeness XLIX In Shepherd's Inn L In or near the Temple Garden LI The Happy Village again LII Which had very nearly been the last of the Story LIII A Critical Chapter LIV Convalescence LV Fanny's Occupation's gone LVI In which Fanny engages a new Medical Man LVII Foreign Ground LVIII 'Fairoaks to let' LIX Old Friends LX Explanations LXI Conversations LXII The Way of the World LXIII Which accounts perhaps for Chapter LXII LXIV Phillis and Corydon LXV Temptation LXVI In which Pen begins his Canvass LXVII In which Pen begins to doubt about his Election LXVIII In which the Major is bidden to Stand and Deliver LXIX In which the Major neither yields his Money nor his Life LXX In which Pendennis counts his Eggs LXXI Fiat Justitia LXXII In which the Decks begin to clear LXXIII Mr. and Mrs. Sam Huxter LXXIV Shows how Arthur had better have taken a Return Ticket LXXV A Chapter of Match-making LXXVI Exeunt Omnes

PENDENNIS

CHAPTER I
Shows how First Love may interrupt Breakfast
One fine morning in the full London season, Major Arthur Pendennis came over from his lodgings, according to his custom, to breakfast at a certain Club in Pall Mall, of which he was a chief ornament. As he was one of the finest judges of wine in England, and a man of active, dominating,