human
Good heavens! Tom! are you back? then you must have deserted.
gpt
Very true, replied Tom, sinking on a chair,
human
I swam on shore last night, and have made from Portsmouth to here since eight o'clock. I hardly need say that I am done up. Let me have something to drink, Jacob, pray.
gpt
Tom, said I,
human
Yes, replied he, gloomily,
gpt
But, Tom, you will certainly be recognised and taken up for a deserter.
human
I must think of that, replied Tom;
gpt
I know the risk I run; but if you obtain my discharge, they may let me off.
human
All's up, Master Jacob--Tom's nabbed--Mary fit after fit--_human natur'_.
gpt
Why, what _is_ the matter, Stapleton?
human
Why, it's just this--Tom desarts to come to Mary. Cause why?--he loves her--human natur'. That soldier chap comes in and sees Tom, clutches hold, and tries to take possession of him. Tom fights, knocks out sergeant's starboard eye, and tries to escape--human natur'. Soldiers come in, pick up sergeant, seize Tom, and carry him off. Mary cries, and screams, and faints--human natur'--poor girl can't keep her head up--two women with burnt feathers all night. Sad job, Mister Jacob. Of all the senses love's the worst, that's sartain--quite upset me, can't smoke my pipe this morning--Mary's tears quite put my pipe out,
gpt
This is a sad business, Stapleton, replied I.
human
Tom will be tried for desertion, and God knows how it will end. I will try all I can; but they have been very strict lately.
gpt
Hope you will, Mister Jacob. Mary will die, that's sartain. I'm more afraid that Tom will. If one does, t'other will. I know the girl--just like her mother, never could carry her helm amidships, hard a port, or hard a starboard. She's mad now to follow him--will go to Maidstone. I take her as soon as I go back to her. Just come up to tell you all about it.
human
This is a gloomy affair, Stapleton.
gpt
Yes, for sartain--wish there never was such a thing as _human natur'_.