human
Who do you think has been here?
gpt
I cannot guess, replied I.
human
Not old Tom and his son?
gpt
No; I don't think it was old Tom, but it was such an old quiz--with such a nose--O heavens! I thought I should have died with laughing as soon as he went downstairs. Do you know, Jacob, that I made love to him, just to see how he'd take it. You know who it is now?
human
O yes! you mean the Dominie, my schoolmaster.
gpt
Yes, he told me so; and I talked so much about you, and about your teaching me to read and write, and how fond I was of learning, and how I should like to be married to an elderly man who was a great scholar, who would teach me Latin and Greek, that the old gentleman became quite chatty, and sat for two hours talking to me. He desired me to say that he should call here to-morrow afternoon, and I begged him to stay the evening, as you are to have two more of your friends here. Now, who do you think are those?
human
I have no others, except old Tom Beazeley and his son.
gpt
Well, it is your old Tom after all, and a nice old fellow he is, although I would not like him for a husband; but as for his son--he's a lad after my own heart--I'm quite in love with him.
human
Your love will do you no harm, Mary; but, recollect, what may be a joke to you may not be so to other people. As for the Dominie meeting old Beazeley and his son, I don't exactly know how that will suit, for I doubt if he will like to see them.
gpt
Why not?
human
Jacob, did we not read the last time that the most dangerous rocks to men were _wine_ and _women_?
gpt
Yes, we did, if I recollect right.
human
Humph, said she;
gpt
We may do so to the last day of our existence, Mary.
human
Well, he is a very clever, learned man, I've no doubt, and looks down upon all of us (not you, Jacob) as silly people. I'll try if _I_ can't give him a lesson.
gpt
You, Mary, what can you teach him?
human
Never mind, we shall see; and Mary turned the discourse on her father.
gpt
You know, I suppose, that father is gone up to Mr Turnbull's.
human
No, I did not.
gpt
Yes, he has; he was desired to go there this morning, and hasn't been back since. Jacob, I hope you won't be so foolish again, for I don't want to lose my master.
human
Oh, never fear; I shall teach you all you want to know before I die,
gpt
Don't be too sure of that, replied Mary;
human
Well, if I walk off in a hurry, I'll make you over to young Tom Beazeley. You're half in love with him already, you know,
gpt
Well, he is a nice fellow, replied she;
human
He has suffered less, replied I, gloomily, calling to mind what had occurred;
gpt
As I said this, I heard her father coming up stairs; he came in high good-humour with his interview with Captain Turnbull, called for his pipe and pot, and was excessively fluent upon
human
THE FEAST OF REASON AND THE FLOW OF SOUL --STAPLETON, ON HUMAN NATURE, PROVES THE FORMER; THE DOMINIE, IN HIS MELTING MOOD, THE LATTER--SALL'S SHOE PARTICULARLY NOTED, AND THE TRUE
gpt
READING MADE EASY