But what I want is to know things, to know all about what _was_ before ever I was living.

St.
Gudule now--they say it was built hundreds of years before; and Rubes again--they say he was a painter king in Antwerpen before the oldest, oldest woman like Annemie ever began to count time.

I am sure books tell you all those things, because I see the students coming and going with them; and when I saw once the millions of books in the Rue du Musee, I asked the keeper what use they were for, and he said, 'To make men wise, my dear.' But Gringoire Bac, the cobbler, who was with me,--it was a fete day,--Bac, _he_ said, 'Do not you believe that, Bebee; they only muddle folks' brains; for one book tells them one thing, and another book another, and so on, till they are dazed with all the contrary lying; and if you see a bookish man, be sure you see a very poor creature who could not hoe a patch, or kill a pig, or stitch an upper-leather, were it ever so.' But I do not believe that Bac said right.

Did he ?" "I am not sure.

On the whole, I think it is the truest remark on literature I have ever heard, and one that shows great judgment in Bac.
Well ?" "Well, sometimes, you know," said Bebee, not understanding his answer, but pursuing her thoughts confidentially,--"sometimes I talk like this to the neighbors, and they laugh at me.