THE ADVENTURES OF PHILIP N CHAPTER I DOCTOR FELL OT attend her own son when he is ill!" said my mother. "She does not deserve to have a son!" And Mrs. Pendennis looked towards her own only darling whilst uttering this indignant exclamation. As she looked, I know what passed through her mind. She nursed me, she dressed me in little caps and long-clothes, she attired me in my first jacket and trousers. She watched at my bedside through my infantile and juvenile ailments. She tended me through all my life, with infinite prayers and blessings. to bless and pray; but from heaven, love pursues me; and often and often I think she is here, only invisible. she held me to her heart She is no longer with us where she is, I know her "Mrs. Firmin would be of no good," growled Dr. Goodenough. • "She would have hysterics, and the nurse would have two patients to look after." "Don't tell me," cries my wife, with a flush on her cheeks. "Do you suppose if that child" (meaning, of course, her paragon) were ill, I would not go to him?" "My dear, if that child were hungry, you would chop off your head to make him broth," says the doctor, sipping his tea. Potage à la bonne we have it at the club. Mother, femme," says Mr. Pendennis. a quantity of vegetables. You would be put to simmer for many hours in an earthen pan, and "Don't be horrible, Arthur!" cries a young lady, who was my mother's companion of those happy days. "And people when they knew you would like you very much." My uncle looked as if he did not understand the allegory. "What is this you are talking about-potage à la-what-d'yecall-'im?" says he. "I thought we were speaking of Mrs. Firmin, of Old Parr Street. Mrs. Firmin is a doosid delicate woman,' interposed the Major. "All the females of that family are. Her mother died early. Her sister, Mrs. Twysden, is very delicate. She would be of no more use in a sick-room than a-than a bull in a china-shop, begad! and she might catch the fever, too.” "And so might you, Major!" cries the doctor. "Aren't you talking to me, who have just come from the boy? Keep your distance, or I shall bite you." The old gentleman gave a little backward movement with his chair. "Gad, it's no joking matter," says he; "I've known fellows catch fevers at-at ever so much past my age. At any rate, the boy is no boy of mine, begad! I dine at Firmin's house, who has married into a good family, though he is only a doctor, and "And pray what was my husband?" cried Mrs. Pendennis. Only a doctor, indeed!" calls out Goodenough. "My dear creature, I have a great mind to give him the scarlet fever this minute!" "My father was a surgeon and apothecary, I have heard," says the widow's son. "And what then? And I should like to know if a man of one of the most ancient families in the kingdom-in the empire, begad! -hasn't a right to pursoo a learned, a useful, an honourable profession. My brother John was "A medical practitioner!" I say, with a sigh. And my uncle arranges his hair, puts his handkerchief to his teeth, and says— "Stuff! nonsense-no patience with these personalities, begad! Firmin is a doctor, certainly-so are you-so are others. But Firmin is a university man, and a gentleman. Firmin has travelled, Firmin is intimate with some of the best people in England, and has married into one of the first families. Gad, sir, do you suppose that a woman bred up in the lap of luxury-in the very lap, sir— at Ringwood and Whipham, and at Ringwood House in Walpole Street, where she was absolute mistress, begad-do you suppose such a woman is fit to be nursetender in a sick-room? She never was fit for that, or for anything except-" (here the Major saw smiles on the countenances of some of his audience)-"except, I say, to preside at Ringwood House and-and adorn society, and that sort of thing. And if such a woman chooses to run away with |