"And what sort of a husband will this Pendennis be ?" many a reader will ask, doubting the happiness of such a marriage and the future of Laura.

The querists are referred to that lady herself, who, seeing his faults and wayward moods--seeing and owning that there are better men than he--loves him always with the most constant affection.

The assertion could be made with perfect confidence, but is not to the purpose.

That Laura's affection should be constant, no one would doubt; but more than that is wanted for happiness.

How about Pendennis and his constancy?
_The Newcomes_, which I bracket in this chapter with _Pendennis_, was not written till after _Esmond_, and appeared between that novel and _The Virginians_, which was a sequel to _Esmond_.