A dinner with Doctor Portman or a neighbouring Squire now and then; a dreary rubber at backgammon with the widow, who did her utmost to amuse him; these were the chief of his pleasures.

He used to long for the arrival of the bag with the letters, and he read every word of the evening paper.

He doctored himself too, assiduously,--a course of quiet living would suit him well, he thought, after the London banquets.

He dressed himself laboriously every morning and afternoon: he took regular exercise up and down the terrace walk.

Thus with his cane, his toilet, his medicine-chest, his backgammon-box, and his newspaper, this worthy and worldly philosopher fenced himself against ennui; and if he did not improve each shining hour, like the bees by the widow's garden wall, Major Pendennis made one hour after another pass as he could, and rendered his captivity just tolerable.