human
Yes; I asked him to tea, she replied in a low voice;
gpt
Give him time, Nan; give him time, said Mr. Sanders, consolingly.
human
Gabriel comes of a stuttering family. They say it took his grandma e'en about seven year to tell Dick Lumsden she'd have him. I lay Gabriel is composin' in his mind a flowery piece sorter like, 'Here's my heart, an' here's my hand; ef you ax me to tea, I'm your'n to command.'
gpt
I'm sorry I can't come, Nan, but I can't; and it's just my luck that you should invite me to-day,
human
You have another engagement?
gpt
No, not an engagement,
human
Well, you are going to do something very unnecessary and improper, said Nan, with the air and tone of a mature woman.
gpt
You are sure to get into trouble. Why don't you ask your Mr. Bethune to take your place, or at least go with you?
human
Why, you talk as if you knew what I am going to do, remarked Gabriel;
gpt
I bet you--I bet you a seven-pence ag'in a speckled hen that Nan knows precisely what you're up to.
human
gpt
It's a shame, he said,
human
He received no reply to this, and continued:
gpt
I'm glad I took too much, Gabriel, ef only for one thing. You know what I told you about Nan's temper--well, you've seed it for yourself. She's frailed Frank, she'd 'a' frailed me jest now ef you hadn't 'a' been on hand, an' she'll frail you out before long. She's jest turrible.
human
Now, fellers, I had a mighty good reason for restin' my mind. You cried bekase old Billy Sanders was drunk, didn't you, Nan? Well, I'm mighty glad you did. I never know'd before that a sob or two would make a Son of Temperance of a man; but that's what they'll do for me. Nobody in this world will ever see me drunk ag'in. So long!