"It's a book," said the Chapman; "no, it's THE book as any young
gentleman a-going out into the world ought to have wi' him, asleep
or awake."
"But what is it all about?" inquired Barnabas a trifle impatiently.
"Why, everything," answered the Chapman; "an' I know because I 've
read it--a thing I rarely do."
"What's the title?"
"The title, young sir; well theer! read for yourself."
And with the words the Chapman held up the book open at the
title-page, and Barnabas read:
HINTS ON ETIQUETTE,
OR
THE COMPLEAT ART OF A GENTLEMANLY DEPORTMENT
BY A PERSON OF QUALITY.
"You'll note that theer Person o' Quality, will ye?" said the Chapman.
"Strange!" said Barnabas.
"Not a bit of it!" retorted the Chapman. "Lord, love me! any one
could be a gentleman by just reading and inwardly di-gesting o' this
here priceless wollum; it's all down here in print, an' nice bold
type, too--pat as you please. If it didn't 'appen as my horryscope
demands as I should be a chapman, an' sell books an' sich along the
roads, I might ha' been as fine a gentleman as any on 'em, just by
follering the directions printed into this here blessed tome, an' in
nice large type, too, an' woodcuts.
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