Chapters 6-7 Summary

In Chapter 6, J. writes about the town of Kingston, the former royal seat of the Saxon kings. The houses there reflect the wealth and importance the town once had, with latticed windows and large fireplaces.

J. tells a story of a Kingston shop that is in a former house. The house has a large, beautiful carved oak staircase, and is paneled floor to ceiling with carved oak. The owner does not care for carved oak, however, and has covered the walls with wallpaper.

This starts J. musing on how odd it seems that people always seem to end up with what they do not want. He relates the case of a boy he knew in school named Stivvings. Stivvings loved to study, but was always getting sick and missing school. At the same time, boys like J. who want nothing more...