 travelled in charge of the dressing-case.
    From the servants of the officers at the barracks Mr. Morgan found that the
Captain had so frequently and outrageously inebriated himself there, that
Colonel Swallowtail had forbidden him the messroom. The indefatigable Morgan
then put himself in communication with some of the inferior actors at the
theatre, and pumped them over their cigars and punch, and all agreed that
Costigan was poor, shabby, and given to debt and to drink. But there was not a
breath upon the reputation of Miss Fotheringay: her father's courage was
reported to have displayed itself on more than one occasion towards persons
disposed to treat his daughter with freedom. She never came to the theatre but
with her father; in his most inebriated moments, that gentleman kept a watch
over her. Finally, Mr. Morgan, from his own experience, added that he had been
to see her hact, and was uncommon delighted with the performance, besides
thinking her a most splendid woman.
    Mrs. Creed, the pew-opener, confirmed these statements to Doctor Portman,
who examined her personally, and threatened her with the terrors of the Church
one day after afternoon service. Mrs. Creed had nothing unfavourable to her
lodger to divulge. She saw nobody; only one or two ladies of the theatre. The
Captain did intoxicate himself sometimes, and did not always pay his rent
regularly; but he did when he had money - or rather Miss Fotheringay did. Since
the young gentleman from Clavering had been and took lessons in fencing, one or
two more had come from the barracks: Sir Derby Oaks, and his young friend, Mr.
Foker, which was often together, and which was always driving over from Baymouth
in the tandem. But on the occasions of the lessons, Miss F. was very seldom
present, and generally came downstairs to Mrs. Creed's own room.
    The Doctor and the Major consulting together, as they often did, groaned in
spirit over that information. Major Pendennis openly expressed his
disappointment; and, I believe, the divine himself was ill-pleased at not being
able to pick a hole in poor Miss Fotheringay's reputation.
    Even about Pen himself, Mrs. Creed's reports were desperately favourable.
»Whenever he come,« Mrs. Creed said, »she always have me or one of the children
with her. And Mrs. Creed, marm, says she, if you please, marm, you'll on no
account leave the room when that young gentleman's here. And many's the time
I've seen
