He spoke of Pen's triumph as an orator at
Oxbridge, and asked was he coming into parliament too? He talked on very
pleasantly, and greatly to Laura's satisfaction, until Pen himself
appeared, and, as has been said, found these gentlemen.
Pen behaved very courteously to the pair, now that they have found their
way into his quarters; and though he recollected with some twinges a
conversation at Oxbridge, when Pynsent was present, and in which after a
great debate at the Union, and in the midst of considerable excitement
produced by a supper and champagne-cup,--he had announced his intention
of coming in for his native county, and had absolutely returned thanks in
a fine speech as the future member; yet Mr. Pynsent's manner was so frank
and cordial, that Pen hoped Pynsent might have forgotten his little
fanfaronnade, and any other braggadocio speeches or actions which he
might have made. He suited himself to the tone of the visitors, then, and
talked about Plinlimmon and Magnus Charters, and the old set at Oxbridge,
with careless familiarity and high-bred ease, as if he lived with
marquises every day, and a duke was no more to him than a village curate.
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