"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." "Ali! so he boozes a lot, does he ?" Paul drew an impressionistic and lurid picture of Mr.Button.
"And they fight ?" "Like billy-o," said Paul.
They reached the van.