The old man appeared to think deeply. He drank off about a quarter of his beer before answering. ‘Yes,’ he said. ‘They liked you to touch your cap to ‘em.
It showed respect, like. I didn’t agree with it, myself, but I done it often enough. Had to, as you might say.’‘And was it usual—I’m only quoting what I’ve read in history books—was it usual for these people and their servants to push you off the pavement into the gutter?’