Prev | Current Page 238 | Next

Thackeray, William Makepeace, 1811-1863

"The History of Pendennis"

"
"He's best on horseback," Mr. Bows said; on which Milly replied, that the
Baronet had ridden third in the steeple-chase on his horse Tareaways, and
the Major began to comprehend that the young lady herself was not of a
particular genius, and to wonder how she should be so stupid and act so
well.
Costigan, with Irish hospitality, of course pressed refreshment upon his
guest: and the Major, who was no more hungry than you are after a Lord
Mayor's dinner, declared that he should like a biscuit and a glass of
wine above all things, as he felt quite faint from long fasting--but he
knew that to receive small kindnesses flatters the donors very much, and
that people must needs grow well disposed towards you as they give you
their hospitality.
"Some of the old Madara, Milly, love," Costigan said, winking to his
child--and that lady, turning to her father a glance of intelligence,
went out of the room, and down the stair, where she softly summoned her
little emissary Master Tommy Creed: and giving him a piece of money,
ordered him to go buy a pint of Madara wine at the Grapes, and
sixpennyworth of sorted biscuits at the baker's, and to return in a
hurry, when he might have two biscuits for himself.


Pages:
226 227 228 229 230 231 232 233 234 235 236 237 238 239 240 241 242 243 244 245 246 247 248 249 250