human
Begging your pardon, Miss Anthea mam--!
gpt
Oh!--you startled me, Adam,--what is it?
human
Begging your pardon, Miss Anthea, but is it true as Mr. Belloo be gone away--for good?
gpt
Yes, Adam.
human
Why then all I can say is--as I'm sorry,--ah! mortal sorry I be, an' my 'eart, mam, my 'eart likewise gloomy.
gpt
Were you so--fond of him, Adam?
human
Well, Miss Anthea,--considering as he were--the best, good-naturedest, properest kind o' gentleman as ever was; when I tell you as over an' above all this, he could use his fists better than any man as ever I see,--him having knocked me into a dry ditch, though, to be sure I likewise drawed his claret,--begging your pardon, I'm sure, Miss Anthea; all of which happened on account o' me finding him a-sleeping in your 'ay, mam;--when I tell you furthermore, as he treated me ever as a man, an' wern't noways above shaking my 'and, or smoking a pipe wi' me--sociable like; when I tell you as he were the finest gentleman, and properest man as ever I knowed, or heard tell on,--why, I think as the word 'fond' be about the size of it, Miss Anthea mam!
gpt
You used to sit together very often--under the big apple tree, didn't you, Adam?
human
Ah!--many an' many a night, Miss Anthea.
gpt
Did he--ever tell you--much of his--life, Adam?
human
Why yes, Miss Anthea,--told me summat about his travels, told me as he'd shot lions, an' tigers--away out in India, an' Africa.
gpt
Did he ever mention--
human
Well, Miss Anthea?
gpt
Did he ever speak of--the--lady he is going to marry?
human
Lady?
gpt
Yes,--the lady--who lives in London?
human
No, Miss Anthea,
gpt
Why--what do you mean?
human
I mean--as there never was no lady, Miss Anthea,--neither up to Lonnon, nor nowhere's else, as I ever heard on.
gpt
But--oh Adam!--you--told me--
human
Ah!--for sure I told ye, but it were a lie, Miss Anthea,--leastways, it weren't the truth. Ye see, I were afraid as you'd refuse to take the money for the furnitur' unless I made ye believe as he wanted it uncommon bad. So I up an' told ye as he'd bought it all on account o' him being matrimonially took wi' a young lady up to Lonnon--
gpt
And then--you went to--him, and warned him--told him of the story you had invented?
human
I did, Miss Anthea; at first, I thought as he were going to up an' give me one for myself, but, arterwards he took it very quiet, an' told me as I'd done quite right, an' agreed to play the game. An' that's all about it, an' glad I am as it be off my mind at last. Ah' now, Miss Anthea mam, seeing you're that rich--wi' Master Georgy's fortun',--why you can pay back for the furnitur'--if so be you're minded to. An' I hope as you agree wi' me as I done it all for the best, Miss Anthea?
gpt
Why--what is it, Miss Anthea?
human
Nothing, Adam,--I haven't slept well, lately--that's all
gpt
Ah, well!--you'll be all right again now,--we all shall,--now the mortgage be paid off,--shan't we, Miss Anthea?
human
Yes, Adam.
gpt
We 'ad a great day--over to Cranbrook, Master Georgy an' me, he be in the kitchen now, wi' Prudence--a-eating of bread an' jam. Good-night, Miss Anthea mam, if you should be wanting me again I shall be in the stables,--Good-night, Miss Anthea!