The dean did pay; but he was a little slow in his payments, and money with him was never very plentiful.

In these circumstances it became very expedient that Frank Greystock should earn his bread early in life.
Nevertheless, he had chosen a profession which is not often lucrative at first.

He had been called to the Bar, and had gone,--and was still going,--the circuit in which lies the cathedral city of Bobsborough.
Bobsborough is not much of a town, and was honoured with the judges' visits only every other circuit.

Frank began pretty well, getting some little work in London, and perhaps nearly enough to pay the cost of his circuit out of the county in which the cathedral was situated.
But he began life after that impecunious fashion for which the Greystocks have been noted.

Tailors, robemakers, and booksellers gave him trust, and did believe that they would get their money.