human
It aren't often as we're honoured wi' company, sir, said Peterday, as they sat down,
gpt
No,
human
We ain't had company to tea, said Peterday, passing Bellew the muffins,
gpt
Honoured us, said the Sergeant, nodding his head approvingly,
human
And the last time was this day twelve months, sir,--because why?--because this day twelve months 'appened to be Miss Priscilla's birthday,--consequently to-day is her birthday, likewise,--wherefore the muffins, and wherefore the shrimps, sir, for they was this day to have once more graced our board, Mr. Bellew.
gpt
said the Sergeant, nodding his head again,
human
Messmate, said Peterday, with a note of concern in his voice,
gpt
Tolerable, comrade, tolerable!
human
Then--why forget the tea?
gpt
Tea! said the Sergeant with a guilty start,
human
The Sergeant tells me you are a musician,
gpt
A musician,--me! think o' that now! To be sure, I do toot on the tin whistle now and then, sir, such things as 'The British Grenadiers,' and the 'Girl I left behind me,' for my shipmate, and 'The Bay o' Biscay,' and 'A Life on the Ocean Wave,' for myself,--but a musician, Lord! Ye see, sir, said Peterday, taking advantage of the Sergeant's abstraction, and whispering confidentially behind his muffin,
human
And it is about the only instrument I could ever get the hang of,
gpt
Why--do you mean as you play, sir?
human
Hardly that, but I make a good bluff at it.
gpt
Why then,--I've got a couple o' very good whistles,--if you're so minded we might try a doo-et, sir, arter tea.
human
With pleasure!
gpt
How's the wind, now, Shipmate?
human
Why so so, Peterday, fairish! fairish!
gpt
Then messmate,--why not a muffin, or even a occasional shrimp,--where be your appetite?
human
Peterday, said the Sergeant, beginning to stir his tea faster than ever, and with his eyes still fixed,
gpt
What messmate, is it heave our anchor, you mean?
human
I mean, comrade--that on Saturday next, being the twenty-fifth instant,--we march out--bag and baggage--horse, foot, and artillery,--we evacuate our position--in face of superior force,--for good and all, comrade.
gpt
Is that so, shipmate?
human
It's rough on you, Peterday--it's hard on you, I'll admit, but things were said, comrade--relative to--business troubles of one as we both respect, Peterday,--things was said as called for--beer down the neck,--and running out into the road, comrade. But it's rough on you, Peterday seeing as you--like the Hussars at Assuan--was never engaged, so to speak.
gpt
Aye, aye, Shipmate, that does ketch me,--all aback, shipmate. Why Lord! I'd give a pound,--two pound--ah, ten!--just to have been astarn of him wi' a rope's end,--though--come to think of it I'd ha' preferred a capstan-bar.
human
Peterday, said the Sergeant removing his gaze from the wall with a jerk,
gpt
Say, messmate,--why that you and me, honouring, and respecting two ladies as deserves to be honoured, and respected, ain't going to let such a small thing as this here cottage come betwixt us, and our honouring and respecting of them two ladies. If, therefore, we are due to quit this anchorage, why then it's all hands to the windlass with a heave yo ho, and merrily! say I. Messmate,--my fist!