He had a shrewd thin face, with an oddly flattened nose, and little round moist dark eyes that glittered like diamonds.

He wore cloth cap on the back of his head, showing in front a thick mass of closely cropped hair.

His collarless shirt was open at the neck and his sleeves were rolled up above the elbow.
"You're Polly Kegworthy's kid, ain't you ?" he asked.
"Ay," said Paul.
"Seen you afore, haven't I ?" Then Paul remembered.

Three or four times during his life, at long, long intervals, the van had passed down Budge Street, stopping at houses here and there.

About two years ago, coming home, he had met it at his own door.