He has come back to his old size subsequently; perhaps is bigger than ever: very likely some new affection has closed round his heart and ribs and made them comfortable, and young Pen is a man who will console himself like the rest of us.

We say this lest the ladies should be disposed to deplore him prematurely, or be seriously uneasy with regard to his complaint.

His mother was, but what will not a maternal fondness fear or invent?
"Depend on it, my dear creature," Major Pendennis would say gallantly to her, "the boy will recover.

As soon as we get her out of the country we will take him somewhere, and show him a little life.

Meantime make yourself easy about him.