human
Why do you wear spectacles?
gpt
Because, my love, my sight is failing. I ain't as young as I was.
human
What does 'not as young as you was' mean?
gpt
What I say, my dear.
human
I notice, said Sibyl, thoughtfully,
gpt
That's about it, Missy, and when I have to darn the stockings of a naughty little Miss, and to mend holes in her dress, I have to put on my glasses.
human
Then I'm glad we're going to be rich; it will be quite easy to 'splain why I am glad, continued Sibyl, thoughtfully.
gpt
When our gold comes, nursie, you'll never have to do no more darning, and you need never wear your glasses 'cept just to read lovely books. Oh, we'll do such a lot when we are rich. There's poor Mr. Holman: I was talking to him only yesterday. Do you know, nursie, his shop isn't paying, not a bit, and he was, oh, so sad about it, and Mrs. Holman began to cry. She told me there's a new big toy-shop in Palace Road, a great big lovely _swampy_ sort of shop. I mean by that, that it takes all the customers. They go in there and they spend their money, and there's none left for poor Mr. Holman. It's just 'cos he lives in Greek Street, and Greek Street is what is called a back street. Isn't it perfectly shameful, nursie? Mr. Holman said if they could afford to have a shop in Palace Road he would get all the little boys and girls back again. But they won't come into his nice, quiet _back_ street. I like back streets, don't you, nursie? It's horrid of the boys and girls not to go to Mr. Holman's.
human
It's the way of the world, dear, answered nurse;
gpt
Then I hate the world, said Sibyl.
human
My beautiful Lord Jesus wouldn't allow it if He was on earth now, would He, nursie?
gpt
Oh, my love, there'd be a lot of things _He'd_ have to change if He came back; but don't ask me any more questions now, Missy. You go out with your governess. You don't get half enough of the air, to my way of thinking; you're looking peaky, and not what the master would like to see.
human
But I am perfectly well, answered Sibyl,
gpt
I never felt better in all my borned days. You know, nursie, I have got a lot to do now. Father gave me 'rections in that letter that nobody else is to see, and one of them was that I was to keep well, so I'll go for a walk if you think it will be good for me; only I just wish to say that when father comes back dear Mr. Holman shall have his shop in Palace Road, and a lot of fresh toys put in it, and then he'll be quite happy and smiling, and his shop will swamp up all the children, and all the pennies and all the half-pennies and sixpennies, and poor, dear, darling Mrs. Holman won't have to wipe away her tears any more.
human
Bless her! the darling she is!