human
I would not, said Reuben,
gpt
I yield. You know bigger and sillier words than I do.
human
Then will you tell me, sir, what on earth you were looking for over there by the pond?
gpt
Mm-yas, said Mr. Welland,
human
Too near them, sir, and not still enough. You should have sat well away from the water, with no motion for at least a quarter-hour.
gpt
Fi-_choo_-shoo!... Mr. Cory, I take it they have peeped in your presence?
human
Oh yes. The little throats swell up enormous and they shake all over. To soften the blow Reuben added:
gpt
I'm sure they would for you, Mr. Welland. Merely a matter of making yourself look like a rock.
human
At my age I'm to imitate a boulder--boulder and yet more bold.
gpt
Paronomasia, said Reuben.
human
The ultimate in wit.
gpt
Boo! You imitated a rock rather well yourself. I never heard a sound. When I first saw you I thought I had to do with one of the Little People.
human
Ah! The invisible world!
gpt
Might I ask further, why you don't find it strange that I should spend my declining years endeavoring to watch frogs peep?
human
I think everything is interesting.
gpt
Oh! That was a startled sound, without laughter. Mr. Welland looked away from him so long that Reuben's pleasure clouded over. He could have gone too far; said something wrong; happiness and friendship could tumble, an air-castle in ruins. Mr. Welland was holding out the snuffbox, closed.
human
Try if you can discover the catch. If you can I'll tell you who gave it me.