The H I column determined by 21 cm measurements vs. the best‐fit H I column determined by a power‐law fit to the quasars' PSPC spectrum. The assumption that both values are equal, indicated by the straight line, is acceptable at the 8% level. Note, in particular, the two highest S/N objects, which deviate from the straight line by less than 1 × 10¹⁹ cm⁻². The agreement between the two measures of N_H indicates a lack of intrinsic cold gas absorption in quasars, and that H I/He I H/He in the ISM at high Galactic latitudes.