But he engaged Mr.Smirke to stop to dinner; and any person accustomed to watch his manner might have remarked that there was something constrained in his hilarity and talkativeness, and that he was unusually gracious and watchful in his communications with his nephew.

He gave Pen an emphatic God-bless-you when the lad went to bed; and as they were about to part for the night, he seemed as if he was going to say something to Mrs.Pendennis, but he bethought him that if he spoke he might spoil her night's rest, and allowed her to sleep in peace.
The next morning he was down in the breakfast-room earlier than was his custom, and saluted everybody there with great cordiality.

The post used to arrive commonly about the end of this meal.

When John, the old servant, entered, and discharged the bag of its letters and papers, the Major looked hard at Pen as the lad got his--Arthur blushed, and put his letter down.

He knew the hand, it was that of old Costigan, and he did not care to read it in public.