It was always a marvel to me 'e didn't put somebody's eye out, but I didn't mind--I 'ated everybody.

'E didn't live with me, 'e just came in an' out.

'E never tol' me 'is name was Elbert--I just called 'im thet, the prettiest name I knew.

'E never tol' me 'oo 'is people were; I shouldn't think they could 'ave bin Brown Borough people, for Elbert seemed to 'ave bin about a lot, seen mountains an' oceans an' sichlike, an' come acrost a lot of furriners--even Germans.

'E talked a lot about people--as good as a novelette 'is stories was, but bloody 'igh-flavoured.