human
Sit by me, Puppy. No one else was about: only the men in the fields now toylike with distance, a flock of cloud-sheep radiant in the lower sky, a bumblebee lighting with clumsy abruptness on Reuben's knee.
gpt
Ah, don't stir! He won't sting thee. See!--yellow packets on his legs, he's been a-gathering. Tell me where he's been and what did he see?
human
Why, Mother, he went away over England, away over France, even way away over Boston, and he went awa-a-ay over the places in Ben's Hakluyt book where the Spice Islands are, and there was a king with ten thousand courtiers and he stung them. Every one.
gpt
Now why? Did they do wrong?
human
They stole the king's beer.
gpt
What, all ten thousand of 'em?
human
Every-each of the ten thousand.
gpt
Now, love, what a selfish old pig the king must've been, for if there was beer enough for all ten thousand, I vow that was more than he'd ever drink alone, la?
human
Phoo, he was a big king.
gpt
Ah, I see.... And was there a queen of the Spice Islands?
human
There was, and she did try to prevent them stealing the beer, but one would be tying spoons to her apron the while the rest was after it, she could no-way catch 'em.
gpt
Wicked things!... Was she beautiful?
human
Ay, but not like you.
gpt
Reuben, thou'lt have me weeping.
human
Why, Mother? What for?
gpt
I don't know, Puppy. They say women must weep sometimes, if only because--I don't know.... Don't ever leave me.
human
Deerfield hath no citadel, said Clarity, Ben good-naturedly agreeing. From this eyrie they could watch the country beyond the stockade, while in the inner rooms far below, Faith and some friend of Uncle John's were enjoying cakes and coffee and Madeira.
gpt
Like crosstrees,