Then he was not like his father--who cared so much for books?
"Oh, books!" He shrugged his shoulders.

"Well, the fact is, I--I don't often read if I can help it.

But of course they make you do a lot of it--with these beastly examinations.

They've about spoiled the army with them." "You wouldn't do it for pleasure ?" "What--reading ?" He shook his head decidedly.

"Not while I could be doing anything else." "Not history or poetry ?" He looked at her again nervously.