human
Here, said the mermaid, pausing,
gpt
What are they?
human
Codfish, was the reply.
gpt
Their only fault is that they are too haughty and foolishly proud of their pedigree.
human
What insolence!
gpt
Isn't it? replied the other.
human
There ought to be a law to prevent these common mermaids from discussing their superiors.
gpt
My sakes! said Trot, astonished;
human
Come, my dears, let us leave these vulgar creatures.
gpt
I'm not as vulgar as you are! exclaimed Trot, much offended by this speech.
human
Where I came from we only eat codfish when there's nothing else in the house to eat.
gpt
How absurd!
human
Eat codfish, indeed!
gpt
Yes, and you're pretty salty, too, I can tell you. At home you're nothing but a pick-up!
human
Dear me! exclaimed the first fish which had spoken;
gpt
I don't need any interduction, replied the girl;
human
I've eaten you, and you always make me thirsty.
gpt
Come, fellow aristocrats; let us go.
human
Never mind; we're going ourselves,
gpt
I've heard tell of codfish aristocercy, said Cap'n Bill;
human
They jus' made me mad, with all their airs, observed Trot;
gpt
You surely did, mate, said the sailor;
human
We are near Crabville now, declared Merla.
gpt
Shall we visit the crabs and see what they are doing?
human
Yes, let's, replied Trot.
gpt
The crabs are lots of fun. I've often caught them among the rocks on the shore and laughed at the way they act. Wasn't it funny at dinner time to see the way they slid around with the plates?
human
Those were not crabs, but lobsters and crawfish, remarked the mermaid.
gpt
They are very intelligent creatures, and by making them serve us we save ourselves much household work. Of course, they are awkward and provoke us sometimes; but no servants are perfect, it is said, so we get along with ours as well as we can.
human
They're all right, protested the child,
gpt
Or scrubbin',
human
The crabs, said Merla,