human
To lease Newtake Farm is a fool's trick, he said.
gpt
Everybody knows the last experiments there. The place has been empty for ten months, and those who touched it in recent years only broke their hearts and wasted their substance.
human
Well, they weern't such men as Will. Theer's a fitness about it, tu; for Will's awn gran'faither prospered at Newtake; an' if he could get a living, another may. Mother do like the thought of Will being there somehow.
gpt
I know it. The sentiment of the thing has rather blinded her natural keen judgment. Curious that I should criticise sentiment in another person; but it 's like my cranky, contrary way. Only I was thinking of Will's thousand pounds. Newtake will suck it out of his pocket quicker than Cranmere sucks up a Spring shower.
human
Well, I'm more hopeful. He knows the value of money; an' Phoebe will help him when she comes up. The months slip by so quickly. By the time I've got the cobwebs out of the farm an' made the auld rooms water-sweet, I dare say theer'll be talk of his wife joining him.
gpt
You going up! This is the first I've heard of it.
human
I meant to tell 'e to-day. Mother is willing and I'm awnly tu glad. A man's a poor left-handed thing 'bout a house. I'd do more 'n that for Will.
gpt
Pity he doesn't think and do something for you. Surely a little of this money--?
human
Doan't 'e touch on that, Clem. Us had a braave talk 'pon it, for he wanted to make over two hundred pound to me, but I wouldn't dream of it, and you wouldn't have liked me tu. You 'm the last to envy another's fair fortune.
gpt
I do envy any man fortune. Why should I starve, waiting for you, and--?
human
Hush! she said, as though she had spoken to a little child.
gpt
I won't hear no wild words to-day in all this gude gold sunshine.
human
God damn everything! he burst out.
gpt
What a poor, impotent wretch He's made me--a thing to bruise its useless hands beating the door that will never open! It maddens me--especially when all the world's happy, like to-day--all happy but me. And you so loyal and true! What a fool you are to stick to me and let me curse you all your life!
human
Doan't 'e, doan't 'e, Clem, said Chris wearily. She was growing well accustomed to these ebullitions.
gpt
Doan't grudge Will his awn. Our turn will come, an' perhaps sooner than we think for. Look round 'pon the sweet fresh airth an' budding flowers. Spring do put heart into a body. We 'm young yet, and I'll wait for 'e if 't is till the crack o' doom.
human
Life's such a cursed short thing at best--just a stormy day between two nights, one as long as past time, the other all eternity. Have you seen a mole come up from the ground, wallow helplessly a moment or two, half blind in the daylight, then sink back into the earth, leaving only a mound? That's our life, yours and mine; and Fate grudges that even these few poor hours, which make the sum of it, should be spent together. Think how long a man and woman can live side by side at best. Yet every Sunday of your life you go to church and babble about a watchful, loving Maker!
gpt
I doan't know, Clem. You an' me ban't everybody. You've told me yourself as God do play a big game, and it doan't become this man or that woman to reckon their-selves more important than they truly be.
human
A great game, yes; but a cursed poor game--for a God. The counters don't matter, I know; they'll soon be broken up and flung away; and the sooner the better. It's living hell to be born into a world where there's no justice--none for king or tinker.
gpt
Sit alongside of me and smell the primrosen an' watch thicky kingfisher catching the li'l trout. I doan't like 'e in these bitter moods, Clem, when your talk's all dead ashes.
human
I'm sick and weary of life without you. 'Conscious existence is a failure,' and the man who found that out and said it was wise. I wish I was a bird or beast--or nothing. All the world is mating but you and me. Nature hates me because I survive from year to year, not being fit to. The dumb things do her greater credit than ever I can. The--
gpt
Now, I'll go--on my solemn word, I'll go--if you grumble any more! Essterday you was so different, and said you'd fallen in love with Miss Spring, and pretended to speak to her and make me jealous. You didn't do that, but you made me laugh. An' you promised a purty verse for me. Did 'e make it up after all? I lay not.
human
Yes, I did. I wasted two or three hours over it last night.
gpt
Might 'e get ten shillings for it, like t' other?
human
It's not worth the paper it's on, unless you like it. Your praise is better than money to me. Nobody wants any thoughts of mine. Why should they?
gpt
Not when they 'm all sour an' poor, same as now; but essterday you spoke like to a picture-book. Theer's many might have took gude from what you said then.
human
I call it 'Spring Rain,' he said.
gpt
Yesterday the world was grey, and I was happy; to-day the world is all gold, and I'm finding life harder and heavier than usual. Read it out slowly to me. It was meant to be read to the song of the river, and never a prettier voice read a rhyme than yours.