Vagrant as an unowned dog, he could roam the streets at pleasure.

Why should he not sell newspapers-in a quarter of the town, be it understood, remote from both factory and Budge Street?
He sold newspapers for three weeks before he was found out.

Then he was chastised and forced to go on selling newspapers with no profit to himself, for his person was rigorously searched and coppers confiscated as soon as he came home.
But during the three weeks' traffic on his own account he had amassed a sufficient hoard of pennies for the purchase of several books in gaudy paper covers exposed for sale in the little stationer's shop round the corner.

Soon he discovered that if he could batik a copper or two on his way home his mother would be none the wiser.

The stationer became his banker, and when the amount of the deposit equaled the price of a book, Paul withdrew his money's worth.