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106 THE ADVENTURES OF PHILIP
that we might shut up, and get longer vacations. Even that
illness which subsequently befell Phil Firmin himself attacked no
one else—the boys all luckily going home for the holidays on the
very day of poor Phil's seizure ; but of this illness more anon.
When it was determined that little Phil Firmin was to go to
Grey Friars, Phil's father bethought him that Major Pendennis,
whom he met in the world and society, had a nephew at the
place, who might protect the little fellow, and the Major took
his nephew to see Dr. and Mrs. Firmin one Sunday after church,
and we had lunch at Old Parr Street, and there little Phil was
presented to me, whom I promised to take under my protection.
He was a simple little man; an artless child, who had not the
least idea of the dignity of a fifth-form boy. He was quite
unabashed in talking to me and other persons, and has remained
so ever since. He asked my uncle how he came to have such
odd hair. He partook freely of the delicacies on the table. I
remember he hit me with his little fist once or twice, which
liberty at first struck me with a panic of astonishment, and
then with a sense of the ridiculous so exquisitely keen, that I
burst out into a fit of laughter. It was, you see, as if a stranger
were to hit the Pope in the ribs, and call him "Old boy"; as
if Jack were to tweak one of the giants by the nose ; or Ensign
Jones to ask the Duke of Wellington to take wine. I had a
strong sense of humour, even in those early days, and enjoyed this
joke accordingly.
" Philip !" cries mamma, " you will hurt Mr. Pendennis."
" I will knock him down !" shouts Phil. Fancy knocking me
down,—ME, a fifth-form boy !
" The child is a perfect Hercules," remarks the mother.
"He strangled two snakes in his cradle," says the Doctor,
looking at me. (It was then, as I remember, I felt Dr. Fell
towards him.)
" La, Dr. Firmin !" cries mamma, " I can't bear snakes. I
remember there was one at Rome, when we were walking one day,
a great large snake, and I hated it, and I cried out, and I nearly
fainted ; and my uncle Ringwood said I ought to like snakes, for
one might be an agreeable rattle ; and I have read of them being
charming in India, and I daresay you have, Mr. Pendenuis, for
I am told you are very clever; and I am not in the least; I
wish I were; but my husband is, very—and so Phil will be.
Will you be a very clever boy, dear? He was named after my
dear papa, who was killed at Busaco when I was quite, quite a
little thing, and we wore mourning, and we went to live with my
uncle Ringwood afterwards; but Maria and I had both our own