human
That bridge, my young friends, is my joy and delight. Nobody touches that bridge, to take care of it, but Bill Hodges,--that's me. I'm proud of that bridge, I am, and I don't know what I'd do, if I didn't have it to care for. I'm glad you like it; I ain't got nary chick nor child to run across it. So whenever you young folks feel like coming over to look at it, I'll be pleased and proud to have ye; pleased and proud, that's what I'll be; so come early and come often, come one and come all.
gpt
We'll bring our grandmother over to see it, said Dorothy,
human
Do, said Mr. Hodges, heartily.
gpt
Bring her along, bring her along. Glad to welcome her, I'm sure. Now I'll go 'long and help you tote your bundles to your boat. I don't have crowds of customers this time of day, and I can just as well go as not.
human
Ain't it purty! he exclaimed as they crossed the bridge.
gpt
Oh, _ain't_ it purty?
human
It is, said Dorothy.
gpt
I don't wonder you love it.
human
And there ain't another like it in the whole world, went on the prideful Hodges.
gpt
Of course there are floating bridges, but no-wheres is there one as purty as this.
human
Fish much?
gpt
Well, we haven't yet. You see we only arrived yesterday, and we're not fairly settled yet.
human
Find plenty of fishin' tackle over to my place. Come along when you're ready, and Bill Hodges'll fit ye out. Pretty big proposition,--you kids shakin' around in that great empty hotel.
gpt
Yes, but we like it, said Leicester;
human
Hope ye will, hope ye will. There ain't been nobody livin' there now for two summers and I'm right down glad to have somebody into it.
gpt
Why do you suppose they couldn't make it pay as a hotel?
human
Well, it was most always the proprietor's fault. Yes, it was the proprietor's fault. Nice people would come up there to board, and then Harding,--he was the last fellow that tried to run it,--he wouldn't treat 'em nice. He'd scrimp 'em, and purty nigh starve 'em. Ye can't keep boarders that way. And so of course the boarders kept leavin', and so the hotel got a bad name, and so nobody wants to try a hand at it again.