human
Where has the lad been?
gpt
I found him up at the dominie's,
human
Fare ye well, Captain Gordon! she said;
gpt
Was the lass speakin' wi' you, skipper?
human
Yes, said Gordon.
gpt
She was telling me that my barque's masts are too high.
human
Ay! but it's no' sae often that she'll speak wi' a man. She's a blate lass wi' maist folk. But what kens she about a vessel's masts, I wonder?
gpt
Ay, but I'm no that sure about it either, Skipper. The masts are higher than ordinary. But ye'll come ben the house and smoke a pipe, maybe?
human
Thank you, pilot, I don't mind--just for a half hour before I go out to the ship.
gpt
I suppose you have been sailing foreign a good deal in your time, pilot?
human
No, said my father,
gpt
I hae never been abroad. All my life has been spent in the Mainland.
human
You mean Scotland--the mainland of Scotland? said the captain, not seeming to understand the meaning of the
gpt
Mainland,