human
The thing for us to do is to keep it quiet--to keep it quiet, sir, said Tozer, lowering his voice as he spoke.
gpt
Nothing must be said about it--no more nor can be helped, Mr. Vincent. As far as it has gone, there's nobody as has heard but me. If it could be kept private from the Salem folks, continued the butterman, taking a seat at the table, and looking cautiously round him, as if to make sure that no one was within hearing,
human
said Tozer, drawing closer, and confiding his doubt in a whisper,
gpt
Who was the man?
human
The man? oh!--which man was you meaning, sir? asked Tozer, with a little fright, recurring to his more generous intention of keeping this intruder altogether from the knowledge of the minister;
gpt
said the butterman, not without some natural complacency:
human
Hush! said Vincent, who had to put a desperate curb upon himself, lest the restrained rage with which he heard this implication of guilt should burst out;
gpt
Mr. Vincent, sir, you mustn't swear. I'm as sorry for you as a man can be; but you're a minister, and you mustn't give way, said Tozer.
human
If there ain't nothing in it, so much the better; but I'm told as the evidence is clean again' her. Well, I won't say no more; it's no pleasure to me to think of a young creature, and a minister's daughter, with a mother like what she's got, going any ways astray--far the contrary, Mr. Vincent: your own father, if he was living, couldn't be more sorry than me. But my advice is, keep quiet, and don't let anything get out no more nor can be helped. I don't mean to say as it can be altogether kep' quiet--that ain't in the nature of things; nor I don't mean to make you suppose as all is likely to go smooth, and no fault found. There's pretty sure to be some unpleasantness, one way or another; and the only thing as I can see is just to put up with it, and stand your ground, and do your duty all the same. And I for one will stand by you, sir, said Tozer, rising to his feet with a little glow of conscious generosity and valour, and shaking the hand of the poor young minister with cordial kindness--
gpt
I'll stand by you, sir, for one, whatever happens; and we'll tide it out, Mr. Vincent, that's what we'll do, sir, if you can but hold on.
human
Thank you, said poor Vincent, moved to the heart--
gpt
And tell your mother, continued Tozer, swelling to a little triumph in his own magnanimity--