human
Courage, measter, said the labourer, giving him a friendly slap on the shoulder.
gpt
There's nought that can hurt thee here. See, the fire burns cheerfully, and 'tis human creturs an' friends that are about thee.
human
Is it gone? groaned the prostrate form, closing his eyes as if to shut out some frightful apparition,--
gpt
Ay, vanished clean away into the black night.
human
What did he see?
gpt
He seed old Mason's ghost on the bridge, said the labourer,
human
True, neibor, said the other bearer, sententiously.
gpt
The sight of the ghost wor nothin' to that.
human
And did the ghost speak to you?
gpt
Na, na. I b'leeve that them gentry from the other world are sworn over by Satan to hold their tongues, an' never speak unless spoken to. Howdsomever, this ghost never said a word; it stood by centre arch o' bridge, wrapped up in a winding sheet, that flickered all over like moonlight; an' it shook ter heed, an' glowered on us with two fiery eyes as big as saucers, an' then sunk down an' vanished.
human
Oh, it was him--him! again groaned forth the terror-stricken man, rising to a sitting posture.
gpt
He looked just as _he_ did, that night--that night we found him murdered.
human
Of whom do you speak, Master Cotton?
gpt
Of Squire Carlos.
human
Squire Carlos! Did the ghost resemble him? He has been dead long enough to sleep in peace in his grave. It is more than twenty years agone since he was murdered by that worthless scamp, Bill Martin. I was but a slip of a lad then. I walked all the way from ---- to Ipswich, to see him hung. How came you to think of him?
gpt
It was him, or some demon in his shape, said Noah Cotton--for it was the hero of my tale--now able to rise and take the chair that the gossiping little tailor offered him.
human
If ever I saw Mr. Carlos in life, I saw his apparition on the bridge this night.
gpt
A man should know his own father, mused the tailor,