The doctor and the lawyer from Clavering, who had seen the chaise pass through, came up in a gig half an hour after the Major's arrival, and entered by the back door.

The former gave a detailed account of the seizure and demise of Mr.Pendennis, enlarged on his virtues and the estimation in which the neighbourhood held him; on what a loss he would be to the magistrates' bench, the County Hospital, etc.

Mrs.Pendennis bore up wonderfully, he said, especially since Master Arthur's arrival.

The lawyer stayed and dined with Major Pendennis, and they talked business all the evening.

The Major was his brother's executor, and joint guardian to the boy with Mrs.Pendennis.
Everything was left unreservedly to her, except in case of a second marriage,--an occasion which might offer itself in the case of so young and handsome a woman, Mr.Tatham gallantly said, when different provisions were enacted by the deceased.