human
Good evening!
gpt
Good evening!
human
I see you're busy, as usual,
gpt
Yes! Brownie replied.
human
And what are you doing--if I may ask?
gpt
Oh! I'm just rambling about,
human
Then you're not doing much of anything,
gpt
Since you're not working, perhaps you'll be willing to help me,
human
Certainly!
gpt
Maybe I can make arrangements with you to----
human
Of course you can!
gpt
That's very kind of you, Brownie said.
human
I'm sure I'm much obliged to you.
gpt
You're quite welcome,
human
You're sure you won't mind!
gpt
Not at all! No, indeed! What is it you want me to do for you? Do you want me to help you roll a log into the water, when you've finished cutting down that tree? I might use my horns for a cant hook, such as the lumbermen have.
human
No! It's not that--thank you!
gpt
Maybe you'd like me to walk back and forth along the top of your dam and make it firmer,
human
No, it's not that, Brownie told him.
gpt
The dam is firm. It has been here a great many years, ever since my great-great-grandfather's time.... You've noticed my house, I dare say,
human
I have, Nimble answered.
gpt
It's a good one, though the chimney looks a bit lopsided, to me. Shall I give it a push and see if I can straighten it?
human
No, indeed--thank you! said Brownie hurriedly.
gpt
For mercy's sake, don't touch my chimney! I worked a long time to make it. And if I do say so, it's the best one in the whole village.
human
Then what-- he demanded--
gpt
There's something I need for my house,
human
Shingles!
gpt
No!
human
I hope you don't want a pair of antlers to fasten over your chimney piece! Nimble exclaimed.
gpt
I shouldn't care to part with my antlers--not just at present!
human
No!
gpt
I'm glad of that,
human
I need a flag to fly over my house.
gpt
That would be fine, Nimble observed.
human
But I don't see how I could help you with that.
gpt
I've heard that you have a flag. I thought perhaps you'd let me have it--or borrow it, at least,
human
I haven't any flag, he said. And then he cried,
gpt
Yes! Yes, I have one!
human
Ah! I was told you had,
gpt
Who told you?
human
Old Mr. Crow!
gpt
I might have known it, Nimble muttered.
human
He has played a joke on you. It's true that I have a flag; but it's not the kind of flag you want. Some people call my tail a flag, on account of the way I wave it in the air when I'm startled. Of course you wouldn't care to have my tail on the top of your house.
gpt
But I can't help being disappointed,