The Stolen Child

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1833 edition. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER IX. Villiers was right: day after day passed; no notice was taken of the advertisement, and our hero quietly ate his way to the bar in comparatively great penury. He was not, however, pinched into such desperation, as when his allowance from Mr. Pearl ceased; but still he was extremely poor, and often submitted to feel the pressure of poverty rather than apply to Mrs. Servit, who resided in London solely on his account, and whose little income was entirely at his disposal till he was called to the bar. But his intimacy continued to ripen more and more into friendship with Villiers, whose peculiar character improved as he was better known, and his stingless misanthropy was always interesting and often amusing, as he had predicted; however, the confluence of events, which had so surprised Troven, passed into a slower and easier stream; but there was a mystery about the man which could never be fathomed. During term-time he regularly attended the hall, although he declared that he never intended to be called to the bar. Sometimes, on the evening of the last day of term, he went out of town, in what direction was never mentioned; and, although with Troven, when in town, he was a constant companion, he never asked him to come with him. He confessed that his circumstances were straightened, and that he was of no trade or profession, yet he pursued no business which occupied his leisure. All about his conduct was impenetrable; but in his chambers in town he was superior to most men; even in his eccentricities there was a show of rational purpose that made him distinguished as at once an odd and far-forecasting person. Troven frequently sought his company for his good sense, though tinged with melancholy. From one of those undivulged...