The shock of meeting Sir Walter in the flesh could not have been greater. The man nodded. "Think I'd tell yer a lie? I do a bit of 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."