"Will you come into the
drawing-room?" he said. "I want to speak to you." And she followed him,
wondering, into the hall.
"What is it?" she said nervously.
"The affair is at an end," Major Pendennis said. "He has a letter there
giving him his dismissal. I dictated it myself yesterday. There are a few
lines from the lady, too, bidding him farewell. It is all over."
Helen ran back to the dining-room, her brother following. Pen had jumped
at his letter the instant they were gone. He was reading it with a
stupefied face. It stated what the Major had said, that Mr. Costigan was
most gratified for the kindness with which Arthur had treated his
daughter, but that he was only now made aware of Mr. Pendennis's
peecupiary circumstances. They were such that marriage was at present out
of the question, and considering the great disparity in the age of the
two, a future union was impossible. Under these circumstances, and with
the deepest regret and esteem for him, Mr. Costigan bade Arthur farewell,
and suggested that he should cease visiting, for some time at least, at
his house.
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