Then she asked him why he had got on his fine pin and beautiful new waistcoat?
Pen blushed and told his mother that the old schoolfellow with whom he had dined at Chatteris was reading with a tutor at Baymouth, a very learned man; and as he was himself to go to College, and as there were several young men pursuing their studies at Baymouth--he was anxious to ride over-and-and just see what the course of their reading was.
Laura made a long face.

Helen Pendennis looked hard at her son, troubled more than ever with the vague doubt and terror which had been haunting her ever since the last night, when Farmer Gurnett brought back the news that Pen would not return home to dinner.

Arthur's eyes defied her.

She tried to console herself, and drive off her fears.

The boy had never told her an untruth.