reading myself in the old 'bus there"-he jerked a thumb--"I've got
some books now. Would yer like to see 'em?"

Would a mouse like cheese? Paul started off with his new companion.

"If it wasn't for a book or two, I'd go melancholy mad and bust
myself," the latter remarked.

Paul's spirit leaped toward a spiritual brother. It was precisely
his own case.

"You'll find a lot of chaps that don't hold with books. Dessay
you've met 'em?"

Paul laughed, precipient of irony.

Barney Bill continued: "I've heard some on 'em say: 'What's the good
of books? Give me nature,' and they goes and asks for it at the
public-'ouse. Most say nothing at all, but just booze."

"Like father," said Paul.

"Eh?" cried his friend sharply.

"Sam Button, what married mother."

"Ali! so he boozes a lot, does he?"

Paul drew an impressionistic and lurid picture of Mr. Button.