human
The carriage is too early, she said;
gpt
O mother, mother, how can we let you go!
human
Kitty! how can you! exclaimed Nancy.
gpt
What does it matter about us when mother has the long journey and father is so ill?
human
It will not be for very long,--it can't be, said Mrs. Carey wistfully.
gpt
The telegram only said 'symptoms of typhoid'; but these low fevers sometimes last a good while and are very weakening, so I may not be able to bring father back for two or three weeks; I ought to be in Fortress Monroe day after to-morrow; you must take turns in writing to me, children!
human
Every single day, mother!
gpt
Every single thing that happens.
human
A fat letter every morning,
gpt
If there is any real trouble remember to telegraph your Uncle Allan--did you write down his address, 11 Broad Street, New York? Don't bother him about little things, for he is not well, you know.
human
And in any small difficulty send for Cousin Ann,
gpt
The mere thought of her coming will make me toe the mark, I can tell you that!
human
Better than any ogre or bug-a-boo, Cousin Ann is, even for Peter!
gpt
And will my Peter-bird be good and make Nancy no trouble?
human
I'll be an angel boy pretty near all the time, he asserted between mouthfuls of apple,
gpt
he added prudently, as if unwilling to promise anything superhuman in the way of behavior. As a matter of fact it required only a tolerable show of virtue for Peter to win encomiums at any time. He would brush his curly mop of hair away from his forehead, lift his eyes, part his lips, showing a row of tiny white teeth; then a dimple would appear in each cheek and a seraphic expression (wholly at variance with the facts) would overspread the baby face, whereupon the beholder--Mother Carey, his sisters, the cook or the chambermaid, everybody indeed but Cousin Ann, who could never be wheedled--would cry
human
Angel boy!