Basswood books

"
Pen blushed again. She had written, but not in verse, the young lover
owned, and he gave his breast-pocket the benefit of a squeeze with his
left arm, which the Major remarked, according to his wont.
"You have got the letters there, I see," said the old campaigner, nodding
at Pen and pointing to his own chest (which was manfully wadded with
cotton by Mr. Stultz). "You know you have. I would give twopence to see
'em."
"Why," said Pen, twiddling the stalks of the strawberries, "I--I," but
this sentence never finished; for Pen's face was so comical and
embarrassed, as the Major watched it, that the elder could contain his
gravity no longer, and burst into a fit of laughter, in which chorus Pen
himself was obliged to join after a minute: when he broke out fairly into
a guffaw.
It sent them with great good-humour into Mrs. Pendennis's drawing-room.
She was pleased to hear them laughing in the hall as they crossed it.
"You sly rascal!" said the Major, putting his arm gaily on Pen's
shoulder, and giving a playful push at the boy's breast-pocket.


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