Mr.Button, who was Lancashire bred and born, divided the yearnings of his spirit between strong drink and dog-fights.

Mrs.Button, a viperous Londoner, yearned for noise.

When Mr.Button came home drunk he punched his wife about the head and kicked her about the body, while they both exhausted the vocabulary of vituperation of North and South, to the horror and edification of the neighbourhood.

When Mr.Button was sober Mrs.Button chastised little Paul.

She would have done so when Mr.Button was drunk, but she had not the time.