Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this file which includes the original illustrations. See 12243-h.htm or 12243-h.zip: (https://www.gutenberg.org/1/2/2/4/12243/12243-h/12243-h.htm) or (https://www.gutenberg.org/1/2/2/4/12243/12243-h.zip) ROUND THE BLOCK An American Novel WITH ILLUSTRATIONS by JOHN BELL BOUTON 1864 [Illustration: MRS. SLAPMAN AT HOME--(Book First, Chap. IX.)] CONTENTS. BOOK FIRST. NEW YEAR'S DAY. I. THE BLOCK. II. THREE BACHELORS. III. PEEPS. IV. QUIGG. V. PLEASURE AS BUSINESS. VI. SOMETHING HIDDEN. VII. THE BOY BOG. VIII. MALTBOY'S TWENTIETH AFFAIR. IX. MRS. SLAPMAN AT HOME. X. INFIRMITIES OF GENIUS. BOOK SECOND. POLISHING. I. THE ENIGMA. II. A DELICATE PROPOSITION. III. AN AUXILIARY OF MODERN CIVILIZATION. IV. MISS PILLBODY. V. A FRIEND IN NEED. VI. BRANCHING OUT. VII. THE LITTLE PUPIL. BOOK THIRD. TRAIL OF THE SERPENT. I. "ONE--TWO--THREE--FOUR." II. THE FALLING BOARD. III. SNEAKING JUSTIFIED. IV. UP IN THE AIR. V. TONGUES OF FIRE. BOOK FOURTH. CHILDREN OF THE WORLD. I. MENDERT VAN QUINTEM AND SON. II. BUYING GOOD BEHAVIOR. III. THE YOUNG MONSTER. IV. WESLEY TIFFINS. V. THE PANORAMA OF AFRICA. BOOK FIFTH. MANOEUVRES. I. STOLEN--MORE THAN A PURSE. II. CONSOLATIONS OF HIGH ART. III. LOVING AFAR OFF. IV. LEGERDEMAIN. BOOK SIXTH. MYSTERIES OF THE NIGHT. I. THE UNKNOWN HAND. II. IN VAIN--IN VAIN. III. THE CLASHING ORBS. IV. A VISION OP HORRORS. V. WHAT THE MORNING BROUGHT. BOOK SEVENTH. JOURNEYINGS AGAINST FATE. I. PEA-SHOOTING AS A SCIENCE. II. BY STEAM. III. PIGWORTH, J.P. IV. STOOP. V. AN AUDIENCE ANALYZED. VI. HUMORS OF THE MANY-HEADED. VII. SCENES NOT IN THE BILLS. BOOK EIGHTH. A DRAMATIC INTERLUDE. I. THE OVERTURE. II. CURTAIN UP. III. ACT SECOND. IV. HOW THE PLAY ENDED. BOOK NINTH. THE INQUEST. I. CORONER AND JURY. II. STATEMENT OF THE PRISONER. III. JUSTICE GOES TO DINNER. IV. LIGHT IN THE PRISON. V. THE SORROW OF WHITE HAIRS. VI. WHAT PAPER, TYPES, AND INK CAN DO. VII. PET AS A WITNESS. VIII. THE BENEFICENCE OF FIRE BELLS. IX. AN OLD MAN'S OFFERING. BOOK TENTH. DONE ON BOTH SIDES. I. A FISHER OF MEN. II. PLAYING WITH THE LINE. III. PULLING IN. IV. THE FIRST OF MAY. V. DEMOLITION OF CERTAIN AIR CASTLES. VI. MR. WHEDELL'S CREDITORS IN CONVENTION ASSEMBLED. VII. DEUS EX MACHINA. BOOK ELEVENTH. DISCOVERIES. I. THE OLD HOUSE REVISITED. II. A POSTHUMOUS SECRET. III. OVERTOP FINDS A SENSIBLE WOMAN. IV. INNOCENCE ON A SLIPPERY ROAD. V. BOG'S OPEN SESAME. VI. TRACKED. VII. FOUND AND LOST. BOOK TWELFTH. SPECULATIONS--PECUNIARY AND MATRIMONIAL. I. THE "COSMOPOLITAN WINDOW FASTENER." II. MIDDLE-AGED CUPID. III. SLAPMAN _vs_. SLAPMAN. IV. HOW OVERTOP SEALED A CONTRACT IN A WAY UNKNOWN TO CHITTY. V. A RETURNED CALIFORNIAN. VI. REVELATIONS OF A LAUGH. BOOK THIRTEENTH.