human
THERE WAS A RATTLING SOUND, AND NOAKES WAS HALF OBLITERATED.
gpt
I say, Mr. Noakes, what _are_ you up to? said Eves, entering with the sacks.
human
What a frightful mess you’re in!
gpt
spluttered Noakes, shaking the soot from his clothes.
human
Gently, Mr. Noakes, don’t be rash. Why you should accuse me when I’m perfectly innocent—you’ve hurt my feelings, Mr. Noakes.
gpt
What about my feelings? shouted the angry man.
human
Really, Mr. Noakes, with every consideration for your wounded feelings, I must say I think you most insulting. Who on earth was to know that you’d be paying one of your visits just at the moment when the chimney was being swept, and would choose that very moment to look up the chimney? You surely didn’t expect to find Mr. Trenchard there?
gpt
You’ve not heard the last of this,
human
My word, what a frightful mess! exclaimed Templeton.
gpt
I forgot all about a covering. It’s nothing to laugh at.
human
Oh, isn’t it! If you’d only seen him, soot all over his greasy head, and the more he rubbed his face the worse it got.
gpt
What on earth are you talking about?
human
Old Noakes. It’s a priceless invention, Bob. Great minds don’t think of little things, but _I_ remembered the covering and fetched these two sacks. When I got back Noakes was here, prying into Trenchard’s papers. But I fancy he heard a sound, for he went over to the chimney, and then—by George! you’ve missed the funniest sight ever seen. He’s only just gone, in a most frightful paddy.
gpt
I don’t wonder. Don’t see anything funny in it myself. I called down ’Are you ready?’ and if you’d been here as we arranged it wouldn’t have happened.
human
Of course it wouldn’t, and old Noakes wouldn’t have been jolly well paid out for sneaking. What’s he want nosing about at a time when he thought every one was out? Trenchard must be told.
gpt
I don’t know about that, but I do know we’d better clear up this mess before Mrs. Trenchard gets back.
human
Or she’ll think precious little of your invention. It’s a great success, anyway; you’ve got more soot than you expected. And old Noakes carried away a lot.
gpt
That there invention, now, said Mr. Trenchard.
human
Hev it worked?
gpt
Splendid! said Eves, emphatically.
human
We’ve got two good sacks of soot and scared a slug.
gpt
It don’t take a mighty deal to do that, sir, said the farmer with a smile.
human
I’ll find that soot useful, and I’m much obleeged to ’ee, to be sure.
gpt
Oh, but, Mr. Trenchard, could you spare me some?
human
For another invention, Eves added.
gpt
He’s got a jolly good idea for protecting our ships from the U-boats, and soot’s in it.
human
As much as you do want, surely. I’d gie more’n a little to scrimp them there engines of iniquity.
gpt
And perhaps you could help me with something else, said Templeton.
human
I want a sort of metal box; any old thing would do, something that’s no good for anything else.
gpt
I can find ’ee summat, I b’lieve. There be an old tank in the shed behind the dairy, where I keep th’ old tricycle.
human
A tricycle! exclaimed Eves.
gpt
What about that for number four, Bob?
human
The very thing! Will you lend it or sell it, Mr. Trenchard?
gpt
I’ll take no money from a young gent as is inventing for his country, danged if I will. ’Tis a old ancient thing that I bought five-and-twenty year ago for me and the missus.
human
A sociable! cried Eves.
gpt
We are in luck’s way.
human
said the farmer.
gpt
Ay, ’tis many a year since the missus and me went gallivanting about the country. She were a nesh young maid then, so to speak it; you wouldn’t think it to see the size she’ve growed to. I’ve kep’ th’ old thing for the sake o’ them gay young days.
human
If you can spare us this afternoon, I’d like to experiment with it,
gpt
Surely, and welcome, and I hope ’twill serve ’ee.