human
Don't you find it very dull out there, Mr Marston, said Mrs Winthorpe one day,
gpt
Dull, madam! he said, smiling;
human
No, he has never said any more about it, and I don't like to ask.
gpt
Then I will. Perhaps it is the tooth of some strange beast which used to roam these parts hundreds of years ago.
human
I say, Marston, said the squire,
gpt
Mr Winthorpe, said the young man,
human
I'd give anything to be allowed to search the ruins.
gpt
Yes, and turn my place upside down, and disturb the home of the poor old monks who used to live here! No, no; I'm not going to have my place ragged to pieces. But when we do dig down, we come upon some curious old stones.
human
Like your tobacco-jar?
gpt
You've got plenty of digging to do, my lad, he said, laughing.
human
Finish that, and then perhaps I may let you have a turn my way. Who's going over to see John Warren?
gpt
Ah, I wish you would go, said Mrs Winthorpe,
human
I'll go, said Dick.
gpt
Hicky will take us in his punt. There'll be plenty of time, and it's moonlight at nine.
human
I'll go with you, Dick, said Marston.
gpt
What's the matter with the man?
human
Our own particular complaint, which the people don't want you to kill, my lad, said the squire.
gpt
Marsh fever--ague. Years to come when it's swept away by the drainage, the people will talk of it as one of the good things destroyed by our work. They are rare ones to grumble, and stick to their old notions.
human
But the people seem to be getting used to us now.
gpt
Oh yes! we shall live it down.