Paul did not reply, being instinctively averse from wounding
susceptibilities. But in his heart rose a high pity for the common
though kindly clay that was Barney Bill.

CHAPTER V

WHEN they reached London in November, after circuitous wanderings,
Barney Bill said to Paul: "You've seed enough of me, matey, to know
that I wish yer good and not harm. I've fed yer and I've housed yer-I
can't say as how I've done much toward clothing yer-and three months on
the road has knocked corners off the swell toggery yer came to me in;
but I ain't beat yer or cussed yer more than yer deserved"--whereat
Paul grinned-"and I've spent a lot of valuable time, when I might have
been profitably doing nothing, a-larning yer of things and, so to
speak, completing yer eddication. Is that the truth, or am I a bloomin'
liar?"

Paul, thus challenged, confirmed the absolute veracity of Barney Bill's
statement. The latter continued, bending forward, his lean brown hand
on the boy's shoulder, and looking at him earnestly: "I took yer away
from your 'appy 'ome because, though the 'ome might have been 'appy in
its own sweet way, you wasn't. I wanted to set yer on the track of yer
'ighborn parents. I wanted to make a man of yer. I want to do the best
for yer now, so I put it to yer straight: If yer likes to come along of
me altogether, I'll pay yer wages on the next round, and when yer gets
a little older I'll take yer into partnership and leave yer the
business when I die. It's a man's life and a free life, and I think yer
likes it, don't yer?"

"Ay," said Paul, "it's foine."

"On the other hand, as I said afore, I won't stand in yer way, and if
yer thinks you'll get nearer to your 'igh-born parents by hitching up
with Mr. Architect, well--you're old enough to choose. I leave it to
you."

But Paul had already chosen. The Road had its magical fascination, to
which he would have surrendered all his boyish soul, had not the call
of his destiny been more insistent. The Road led nowhither. Princes and
princesses were as rare as hips and haws in summer-time. Their
glittering equipages did not stop the van, nor did they stand at the
emblazoned gateways of great parks waiting patiently for long-lost
sons. He knew that he must seek them in their own social world, and to
this he would surely be raised by his phantasmagorial income of thirty
shillings a week.

"You won't object to my keeping a friendly eye on yer for the next year
or two?" asked