human
Good even, Aunt Temperance, said he.
gpt
You are right in time for supper.
human
Thank you, Master Aubrey Late-hours, replied she;
gpt
Comfort her? he said.
human
She's all right.
gpt
How old are you, Aubrey?
human
Why, Aunt Temperance, you know I was twenty last month.
gpt
One makes blunders betimes, lad. That speech of thine sounded about ten.
human
What mean you, Aunt Temperance?
gpt
Nay, lad, if God have not given thee eyes and brains, I shall be ill-set to do it.--Run in, Lettice. _No_, I'm not coming--not while to-morrow morning. Remember to be up early, and help all you can--both of you. Good even.
human
I say, 'tis jolly moving house, isn't it?
gpt
I can't think why Aunt Temperance supposes that Grandmother or any body should want comforting.
human
Well, we are young, and she is old, replied Lettice;
gpt
I suppose old folks care more about those things, perhaps.
human
Oh, 'tis but because they are lazy and have the rheumatism, said Aubrey, laughing.
gpt
Beside, Grandmother cares not about things like Mother. Mother's for ever fretting, but Grandmother's always cheery.
human
was still restricted to palaces and palatial mansions, and had not descended so low as to a country gentleman's house like Selwick Hall. The great parlour was a large room with a floor of polished oak, hung with tapestry in which the prevailing colour was red, and the chairs held cushions of red velvet. On the tiled hearth a comfortable fire burned softly away, and in a large chair of dark carved wood beside it, propped up with cushions of red velvet, sat an old lady of seventy-six, looking the very picture of comfort and sweetness. And though