human
Can you tell me, she said, turning to Mr. Sanders,
gpt
Why, Ab thar ought to be able to tell you that,
human
Well, I jest ain't, declared Mr. Goodlett, with some show of impatience.
gpt
I tell you, William, I been so worried an' flurried, an' so disqualified an' mortified, an' so het up wi' fust one thing an' then another, that I ain't skacely had time for to scratch myself on the eatchin' places, much less gittin' up all times er night for to see ef the Gaither Place is got folks or ha'nts in it. When you've been through what I have, William, you won't come a-axin' me ef the Gaither house is whar it mought be, or whar it oughter be, or ef it's popylated or dispopylated.
human
Don't you think it is absurd, said the pale lady, again appealing to Mr. Sanders,
gpt
But, mother, protested the young lady,
human
Why, dearest, this is the strangest of all strange things. The driver here says he lives at Dorringtons', and the Gaither house is not so very far from Dorringtons'.
gpt
Everybody knows, said Gabriel,
human
Humph! grunted Mr. Goodlett, giving the lad a severe look. He started to climb into his seat, but turned to Gabriel.
gpt
Is she got a wen?
human
Yes, she has a wen,
gpt
Well, then, ef she's got a wen, ef Polly Gaithers is got a wen, she's livin' in that house, bekaze, no longer'n last Sat'day, she come roun' for to borry some meal; an' whatsomever she use to have, an' whatsomever she mought have herearter, she's got a wen now, an' I'll tell you so on a stack of Bibles as high as the court-house.
human
Oh dear!
gpt
Oh, we'll take the young man's word for it, said the invalid,
human
When Gabriel had told her, she repeated the name over again.
gpt
I used to know your grandmother very well, she said.
human
Tell her Margaret Bridalbin has returned home, and would be delighted to see her.
gpt
Then, ma'am, you must be Margaret Gaither,
human
Yes, I was Margaret Gaither, replied the invalid.
gpt
I used to know you very well, Mr. Sanders, and if I had changed as little as you have, I could still boast of my beauty.
human
Yet nobody hears me braggin' of mine, Margaret, said Mr. Sanders with a smile that found its reflection in the daughter's face;
gpt
Oh, thank you, sir, for the clever joke. My mother has told me long ago how full of fun you are, said the young lady, blushing sufficiently to show that she did not regard the compliment as altogether a joke.
human
You may drive on now,