He told her that he was working, when he had no work to do; he laughed at her questions as to whether he had comfortable meals, when he had had no meal at all.

The Bowers never invited him to come to the parlour now and sit at their table; they were so indifferent about him, so long as he paid his rent, that for a long time they did not know how hard beset he was.

Lydia had ventured to ask him if he would change his lodgings, provided she found him a room in a house where she could visit him without unpleasantness; but the old man avoided her request.

If he moved, all sorts of things would become known to Lydia which at present he was able to conceal.
One thing he could not hide.

His hand had become so unsteady that the bow would no longer strike true notes from the violin; so he ceased to play to the girl when she came.