Whatever tales this candid
woman heard, she was sure to impart them to her neighbours; and after she
had been put into possession of Pen's secret by the little scandal at
Chatteris, poor Doctor Portman knew that it would next day be about the
parish of which he was the Rector. And so indeed it was; the whole
society there had the legend--at the news-room, at the milliner's, at the
shoe-shop, and the general warehouse at the corner of the market; at Mrs.
Pybus's, at the Glanders's, at the Honourable Mrs. Simcoe's soiree, at
the Factory; nay, through the mill itself the tale was current in a few
hours, and young Arthur Pendennis's madness was in every mouth.
All Dr. Portman's acquaintances barked out upon him when he walked the
street the next day. The poor divine knew that his Betsy was the author
of the rumour, and groaned in spirit. Well, well,--it must have come in a
day or two, and it was as well that the town should have the real story.
What the Clavering folks thought of Mrs. Pendennis for spoiling her son,
and of that precocious young rascal of an Arthur for daring to propose to
a play-actress, need not be told here.
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