human
An' gude-marnin' to you, Martin. Another braave day, sure 'nough. Climb awver the hedge. You'm movin' early. Ban't eight o'clock.
gpt
I'm off to the 'Grey Wethers,' those old ruined circles under Sittaford Tor, you know. But I meant a visit to you as well. Bonus was in the farmyard and brought me with him.
human
Ess fay, us works, I tell 'e. We'm fightin' the rabbits now. The li'l varmints have had it all theer way tu long; but this wire netting'll keep 'em out the corn next year an' the turnips come autumn. How be you fearin'? I aint seen 'e this longful time.
gpt
Well, thank you; and as busy as you in my way. I'm going to write a book about the Dartmoor stones.
human
Don't know yet. And, after all, I have found out little that sharper eyes haven't discovered already. Still, it fills my time. And it is that I'm here about.
gpt
You can go down awver my land to the hut-circles an' welcome whenever you mind to.
human
Sure of it, and thank you; but it's another thing just now--your brother-in-law to be. I think perhaps, if he has leisure, he might be useful to me. A very clever fellow, Hicks.
gpt
He'm a weak sapling of a man, if you ax me. Allus grumblin', an' soft wi' it--as I knaw--none better,
human
He's out of his element, I think--a student--a bookish man, like myself.
gpt
As like you as chalk's like cheese--no more. His temper, tu! A bull in spring's a fule to him. I'm weary of him an' his cleverness.
human
You see, if I may venture to say so, Chris--
gpt
I knaw all 'bout that. 'Tis like your gudeness to try an' put a li'l money in his pocket wi'out stepping on his corns. They 'm tokened. Young people 's so muddle-headed. Bees indeed! Nice things to keep a wife an' bring up a fam'ly on! An' he do nothin' but write rhymes, an' tear 'em up again, an' cuss his luck, wi'out tryin' to mend it. I thought something of un wance, when I was no more 'n a bwoy, but as I get up in years I see the emptiness of un.
human
He would grow happy and sweeter-hearted if he could marry your sister.
gpt
Not him! Of course, if it's got to be, it will be. I ban't gwaine to see Chris graw into an auld maid. An' come bimebye, when I've saved a few hunderd, I shall set 'em up myself. But she's makin' a big mistake, an', to a friend, I doan't mind tellin' 'e 'tis so.
human
I hope you're wrong. They'll be happy together. They have great love each for the other. But, of course, that's nothing to do with me. I merely want Hicks to undertake some clerical work for me, as a matter of business, and I thought you might tell me the best way to tackle him without hurting his feelings. He's a proud man, I fancy.
gpt
Ess; an' pride's a purty fulish coat for poverty, ban't it? I've gived that man as gude advice as ever I gived any man; but what's well-thought-out wisdom to the likes of him? Get un a job if you mind to. I shouldn't--not till he shaws better metal and grips the facts o' life wi' a tighter hand.
human
I'll sound him as delicately as I can. It may be that his self-respect would strengthen if he found his talents appreciated and able to command a little money. He wants something of that sort--eh?
gpt
Doan't knaw but what a hiding wouldn't be so gude for un as anything,