By the Elbe, by Sarah Tytler (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1876. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER XIII. WHOM MARY WATCHES AT A SMOKING CONCERT. Me. Carteret was, as Mary had supposed, keenly interested by learning that Taff Penryn was in Dresden. After waiting some days in anticipation of the promised call which was not paid, he began to question his daughter closely with regard to each particular of her interview, including the details of the young man's appearance and manner. The Squire groaned audibly when he heard that Penryn's dress, though perfectly respectable, was inclined to be threadbare, while he had alluded in conversation with Mary to his mission as a discoverer. 'He'll come to grief, ' prophesied Mr. Carteret, 'and he might have done well. What distant relations he has in Germany are unlike the Penryns in England--worthy, well esteemed people. He has followed up his education commendably. He has abilities and attainments which ought to give him a competency, if not distinction among his fellows. As an assistant to a professor, since he has not taken to the Church, to law, or to physic, and has not qualified himself for a Government office, he might be in a perfectly independent, honourable position.' Mary did not say, ' How could you expect a searcher into the grand Arcana to descend to teach the rudiments to little boys with satchels on their backs, or even to impart philosophy to flighty, singing, shouting youths, in white caps and long boots, with rapiers, and tasselled pipes?' She knew her father would think that she was treating the question too lightly, that he could not bear a joke on this point. She only said, 'But must there not always be some speculators--shall we call them? No, dreamers is the better word--in this very wideawake, practical world? Would it not be considerably the worse for the want of dreamers? Has it no...