human
Don't, Edith, said the boy.
gpt
Leave me alone, I don't want to be meddled with,
human
Oh, Florian! said the girl,
gpt
I'm not to mind a bit about my religion then?
human
Does your religion bid you tell a lie?
gpt
I'm not telling a lie, I am just holding my tongue. A Catholic has a right to hold his tongue when he is among Protestants.
human
Even to the ruin of his father,
gpt
I don't want to ruin papa. He said he was going to turn--to turn me out of the house. I would go and drown myself in the lake if he did, or in one of those big dykes which divide the meadows. I am miserable among them--quite miserable. Edith never gives me any peace, day or night. She comes and sits in my bedroom, begging me to tell the truth. It ought to be enough when I say that I will hold my tongue. Papa can turn me out to drown myself if he pleases. Edith goes on cheating the words out of me till I don't know what I'm saying. If I am to be brought up to tell it all before the judge I shan't know what I have said before, or what I have not said.
human
But you did see the sluice gates torn down, and thrown back into the water? said the Captain. Here Florian shook his head mournfully.
gpt
I understood you to acknowledge that you had seen the gates destroyed.
human
I never said as much to you,
gpt
But you did to me,
human
If a fellow says a word to you, it is repeated to all the world. I never would have you joined with me in a secret. You are a great deal worse than--, well, those fellows that you abuse me about. They never tell anything that they have heard among themselves, to people outside.
gpt
Pat Carroll, you mean?
human
He isn't the only one. There's more in it than him.
gpt
Oh yes; we know that. There were many others in it besides Pat Carroll, when they let the waters in through the dyke gates. There must have been twenty there.
human
No, there weren't--not that I saw.
gpt
A dozen, perhaps?
human
You are laying traps for me, but I am not going to be caught. I was there, and I did see it. You may make the most of that. Though you have me up before the judge, I needn't say a word more than I please.
gpt
He is more obstinate, said his father,
human
But so mistaken, said the Captain,
gpt
I have never owned that,
human
Not to your sister?
gpt
I only owned to one.
human
Pat Carroll?
gpt
That's another of your traps, Captain Clayton. If she says Pat Carroll, I can say it was Tim Brady. A boy's word will be as good as a girl's, I suppose.
human
A lie can never be as good as the truth, whether from a boy or a girl, said the Captain, endeavouring to look him through and through. The boy quavered beneath his gaze, and the Captain went on with his questioning.
gpt
I suppose we may take it for granted that Pat Carroll was there, and that you did see him?
human
You may take anything for granted.
gpt
You would have to swear before a jury that Pat Carroll was there.
human
He was there, and I did see him.
gpt
Dear Flory, said she.
human
My own brother! I knew that you would struggle to be a gentleman at last.
gpt
It will all come right with him now, said the Captain. But the father frowned and shook his head.
human
How many were there with him?
gpt
It was dark, and I didn't see them all. There were only six whom I could see, though I know that there were many others round about among the meadows whose names I had heard, though I do not remember them.
human
We will confine ourselves to the six whom you did see,