His heart jumped with pleasure
as the famous university came in view, and the magnificent prospect of
venerable towers and pinnacles, tall elms and shining river, spread
before him.
Pen had passed a few days with his uncle at the Major's lodgings, in Bury
Street, before they set out for Oxbridge. Major Pendennis thought that
the lad's wardrobe wanted renewal; and Arthur was by no means averse to
any plan which was to bring him new coats and waistcoats. There was no
end to the sacrifices which the self-denying uncle made in the youth's
behalf. London was awfully lonely. The Pall Mall pavement was deserted;
the very red jackets had gone out of town. There was scarce a face to be
seen in the bow-windows of the clubs. The Major conducted his nephew
into one or two of those desert mansions, and wrote down the lad's name
on the candidate-list of one of them; and Arthur's pleasure at this
compliment on his guardian's part was excessive. He read in the parchment
volume his name and titles, as 'Arthur Pendennis, Esquire, of Fairoaks
Lodge, ----shire and Saint Boniface College, Oxbridge; proposed by Major
Pendennis, and seconded by Viscount Colchicum,' with a thrill of intense
gratification.
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