human
To be, or not to be! Bellew leaned against the mighty bole of
gpt
King Arthur, and stared up at the moon with knitted brows.
human
That is the question!--whether I shall brave the slings, and arrows and things, and--speak tonight, and have done with it--one way or another, or live on, a while, secure in this uncertainty? To wait? Whether I shall, at this so early stage, pit all my chances of happiness against the chances of--losing her, and with her--Small Porges, bless him! and all the quaint, and lovable beings of this wonderful Arcadia of mine. For, if her answer be 'No,'--what recourse have I,--what is there left me but to go wandering forth again, following the wind, and with the gates of Arcadia shut upon me for ever? 'To be, or not to be,--that is the question!'
gpt
Be that you, Mr. Belloo, sir?
human
Even so, Adam. Come sit ye a while, good knave, and gaze upon Dian's loveliness, and smoke, and let us converse of dead kings.
gpt
Why, kings ain't much in my line, sir,--living or dead uns,--me never 'aving seen any--except a pic'ter,--and that tore, though very life like. But why I were a lookin' for you was to ax you to back me up,--an' to--play the game, Mr. Belloo sir.
human
Why--as to that, my good Adam,--my gentle Daphnis,--my rugged Euphemio,--you may rely upon me to the uttermost. Are you in trouble? Is it counsel you need, or only money? Fill your pipe, and, while you smoke, confide your cares to me,--put me wise, or, as your French cousins would say,--make me 'au fait.'
gpt
Well, began Adam, when his pipe was well alight,
human
Yes.
gpt
Well, to-night, sir, Miss Anthea calls me into the parlour to ax,--or as you might say,--en-quire as to the why, an' likewise the wherefore of you a buyin' all that furnitur'.
human
Did she, Adam?
gpt
Ah!--'why did 'e do it?' says she--'well, to keep it from bein' took away, p'raps,' says I--sharp as any gimblet, sir.
human
Good!
gpt
Ah!--but it weren't no good, sir, returned Adam,
human
Hum!
gpt
Seeing which, sir, an' because she must have that money if she 'opes to keep the roof of Dapplemere over 'er 'ead, I, there an' then, made up,--or as you might say,--concocted a story, a anecdote, or a yarn,--upon the spot, Mr. Belloo sir.
human
Most excellent Machiavelli!--proceed!
gpt
I told her, sir, as you bought that furnitur' on account of you being wishful to settle down,--whereat she starts, an' looks at me wi' her eyes big, an' surprised-like. I told 'er, likewise, as you had told me on the quiet,--or as you might say,--con-fi-dential, that you bought that furnitur' to set up 'ouse-keeping on account o' you being on the p'int o' marrying a fine young lady up to Lonnon,--
human
What!
gpt
You--told her--that?
human
I did sir.
gpt
But you knew it was a--confounded lie.
human
Aye,--I knowed it. But I'd tell a hundred,--ah! thousands o' lies, con-founded, or otherwise,--to save Miss Anthea.
gpt
To save her?
human
From ruination, sir! From losing Dapplemere Farm, an' every thing she has in the world. Lord love ye!--the 'ops can never bring in by theirselves all the three thousand pounds as is owing,--it ain't to be expected,--but if that three thousand pound ain't paid over to that dirty Grimes by next Saturday week as ever was, that dirty Grimes turns Miss Anthea out o' Dapplemere, wi' Master Georgy, an' poor little Miss Priscilla,--An' what'll become o' them then,--I don't know. Lord! when I think of it the 'Old Adam' do rise up in me to that extent as I'm minded to take a pitch-fork and go and skewer that there Grimes to his own chimbley corner. Ye see Mr. Belloo sir, he went on, seeing Bellew was silent still,
gpt
Miss Anthea be that proud, an' independent that she'd never ha' took your money, sir, if I hadn't told her that there lie,--so that's why I did tell her that here lie.
human
I see, nodded Bellew,
gpt
I see!--yes,--you did quite right. You acted for the best, and you--did quite right, Adam,--yes, quite right
human
Thankee sir!
gpt
And so--this is the game I am to play, is it?
human
That's it, sir; if she ax's you,--'are you goin' to get married?'--you'll tell her 'yes,--to a lady as you've knowed from your childhood's hour,--living in Lonnon,'--that's all, sir.
gpt
That's all is it, Adam! said Bellew slowly, turning to look up at the moon again.
human
It doesn't sound very much, does it? Well, I'll play your game,--Adam,--yes, you may depend upon me.
gpt
Thankee, Mr. Belloo sir,--thankee sir!--though I do 'ope as you'll excuse me for taking such liberties, an' making so free wi' your 'eart, and your affections, sir?
human
Oh certainly, Adam!--the cause excuses--everything.
gpt
Then, good-night, sir!
human
Good-night, Adam!