But I shall ask
her for no more money."
"As you like, sir," the Major said. "You are of age, and my hands are
washed of your affairs. But you can't live without money, and have no
means of making it that I see, though you have a fine talent in spending
it, and it is my belief that you will proceed as you have begun, and ruin
your mother before you are five years older.--Good morning; it is time
for me to go to breakfast. My engagements won't permit me to see you much
during the time that you stay in London. I presume that you will acquaint
your mother with the news which you have just conveyed to me."
And pulling on his hat, and trembling in his limbs somewhat, Major
Pendennis walked out of his lodgings before his nephew, and went ruefully
off to take his accustomed corner at the Club. He saw the Oxbridge
examination-lists in the morning papers, and read over the names, not
understanding the business, with mournful accuracy. He consulted various
old fogies of his acquaintance, in the course of the day, at his Clubs;
Wenham, a Dean, various Civilians; and, as it is called, "took their
opinion," showing to some of them the amount of his nephew's debts, which
he had dotted down on the back of a card, and asking what was to be done,
and whether such debts were not monstrous, preposterous? What was to be
done?--There was nothing for it but to pay.
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