human
What a charming old bit! said he, turning it about.
gpt
Where in the world did it come from? English, of course; and it looks like a loving-cup. A copy of some old Oxford thing, perhaps; only they didn't copy much then. I should think it had been made for a child. Tom turned it round and round and drew the candles toward him.
human
Here's an inscription, too, but very much worn.
gpt
Put it down a minute, said Mrs. Burton impatiently.
human
Every time I have thought of it I have been more and more ashamed to have it in the house. People weren't so shocked by such things at first; they would only be sentimental about the ruined homes, and say that, 'after all, it was the fortune of war.' That cup was stolen.
gpt
But who stole it?
human
Your father brought it here, said Mrs. Burton, with great spirit, and even a tone of reproach.
gpt
My son, Tom Burton, your father, brought it home from the war. I think his plan was to keep it safe to send back to the owners. But he left it with your mother when he was ordered suddenly to the front; he was only at home four days, and the day after he got back to camp was the day he was killed, poor boy
human
I remember something about it now, Tom hastened to say.
gpt
I remember my mother's talking about the breaking up of Southern homes, and all that; she never believed it until she saw the cup, and I thought it was awfully silly. I was at the age when I could have blown our own house to pieces just for the sake of the racket.
human
And that terrible year your grandfather's and your mother's death followed, and I was left alone with you--two of us out of the five that had made my home
gpt
I should say one and a half, insisted Tom, with some effort.
human
What a boy I was for a grandson! Thank Heaven, there comes a time when we are all the same age! We are jolly together now, aren't we? Come, dear old lady, don't let's think too much of what's gone by;