“Once,” says he.
“What at?” says I.
“Painter,” says he.
“House or picture?” says I.
“Houses mostly.”
“Must be fun—paintin’ houses,” says I.
“Would be if it wasn’t work. I calc’late I could enjoy to paint a house if I wasn’t paid for it—if I was jest doin’ it to show folks I could. But when you’re doin’ it as a job it hain’t the same.”
Catty was thinking hard. “What d’you need to go into the paintin’ business, Dad?”
“Paints,” says Mr. Atkins.
“What else?”