 partaken of them more than once, both in private and at
the dinner of the Clavering Institute, attendant on the incorporation of the
reading-room, and when the chief inhabitants of that flourishing little town met
together and did justice to the hostess's excellent cheer. The chair was taken
by Sir Francis Clavering, Bart., supported by the esteemed rector, Dr. Portman;
the vice-chair being ably filled by -- Barker, Esq. (supported by the Rev. J.
Simcoe and the Rev. S. Jowls), the enterprising head of the ribbon factory in
Clavering, and chief director of the Clavering and Chatteris Branch of the Great
Western Railway, which will be opened in another year, and upon the works of
which the engineers and workmen are now busily engaged.
    »An interesting event which is likely to take place in the life of our
talented townsman, Arthur Pendennis, Esq., has, we understand, caused him to
relinquish the intentions which he had of offering himself as a candidate for
our borough; and rumour whispers« (says the Chatteris Champion, Clavering
Agriculturist, and Baymouth Fisherman, - that independent county paper, so
distinguished for its unswerving principles and loyalty to the British oak, and
so eligible a medium for advertisements) - »rumour states,« says the C.C., C.A.,
and B.F., »that should Sir Francis Clavering's failing health oblige him to
relinquish his seat in Parliament, he will vacate it in favour of a young
gentleman of colossal fortune, and related to the highest aristocracy of the
empire, who is about to contract a matrimonial alliance with an accomplished and
lovely lady, connected by the nearest ties with the respected family at
Clavering Park. Lady Clavering and Miss Amory have arrived at the Park for the
Christmas holidays; and we understand that a large number of the aristocracy are
expected, and that festivities of a peculiarly interesting nature will take
place there at the commencement of the new year.«
    The ingenious reader will be enabled, by the help of the above announcement,
to understand what has taken place during the little break which has occurred in
our narrative. Although Lady Rockminster grumbled a little at Laura's preference
for Pendennis over Bluebeard, those who are aware of the latter's secret will
understand that the young girl could make no other choice, and the kind old lady
who had constituted herself Miss Bell's guardian was not ill pleased that she
was to fulfil the great purpose in life of young ladies and marry. She informed
her maid of the
