THE

12600 13.

FOSTER BROTHERS

BEING A HISTORY

OF THE SCHOOL AND COLLEGE LIFE

OF TWO YOUNG MEN.

BY

THE AUTHOR OF

"THE FAMILY SCAPE GRACE."

NEW EDITION.

LONDON:

CHAPMAN AND HALL, 193, PICCADILLY.

[The right of translation is reserved.]

THE

FOSTER BROTHERS;

BEING

A HISTORY OF THE SCHOOL AND COLLEGE

LIFE OF TWO YOUNG MEN.

CHAPTER I.

THE SQUARE AND THE MEWS.

PON the same night, early in this present century, within a few hours of one another and

within a few doors, Adolphus Henry Plantagenet Brooks Hollis and Robert Birt were born; the one in Bulbul Square, and the other just round the corner in Bulbul Mews; the straw that was laid down so thickly for the sake of Honourable Madam, dulled the sound of the passing chariots for her coachman's wife, while she was sharing with her that bitter portion bequeathed to womankind by Mother Eve. Some people would, perhaps, have been distressed at not having the exclusive benefit of their precaution all to themselves; but not so was Mrs. Hollis. The great doctor, her professional attendant, even, at the instance of his noble patient,-" My good Sarah, Sir Toby, my