human
Ban't you never comin' to bed? 'T is most marnin',
gpt
Just comin'. What a job! Look here--twelve pages. I be surprised myself to think how blamed well I've got through wi' it. You doan't knaw what you can do till you try. I used to wonder at Clem's cleverness wi' a pen; but I be purty near so handy myself an' never guessed it!
human
I'm sure you've made a braave job of it. I'll read it fust thing to-morrow.
gpt
You shall hear it now.
human
Not now, Will; 't is so late an' I'm three paarts asleep. Come to bed, dearie.
gpt
Oh--if you doan't care--if it's nought to you that I've sit up all night slavin' for our gude--
human
Then I'll hear it now. Coourse I knaw 't is fine readin'. Awnly I thought you'd be weary.
gpt
Sit here an' put your toes to the heat.
human
Now you'm vitty; an' if theer's anything left out, tell me.
gpt
I lay, wi' your memory, you've forgot little enough.
human
I lay I haven't. All's here; an' 't is a gert wonder what a lot o' gude things us have got. They did ought to fetch a couple o' hunderd pound at least, if the sale's carried out proper.
gpt
They didn't cost so much as that.
human
By Gor! Didn't they? Well, set out in full, like this here, they do sound as if they ought to be worth it. Now, I'll read 'em to see how it all sounds in spoken words.
gpt
Butivul; but do 'e mean in all solemn seriousness to go out England? 'T is a awful thought, come you look at it close.
human
Ess, 't is a gert, bold thing to do; but I doan't fear it. I be gettin' into a business-like way o' lookin' 'pon life of late; an' I counts the cost an' moves arter, as is the right order. Listen to these items set out here. If they 'm printed big, wan under t'other, same as I've wrote 'em, they'll fill a barn door purty nigh!
gpt
Do'e judge that's the best order, Will?
human
Coourse 't is! I thought that out specially. Doan't go thrawin' me from my stride in the middle. Arter 'Sheffield make,' 'half-dozen knives and forks; sundry ditto, not so good; hand saw; 2 hammers; 1 cleaver; salting trendle; 3 wheelbarrows--'
gpt
Doan't forget you lent wan of 'em to Farmer Thackwell.
human
No, I gived it to un, him bein' pushed for need of wan. It slipped my memory. '2 wheelbarrows.' Then I goes on, 'pig stock; pig trough; 2 young breeding sows; 4 garden tools; 2 peat cutters; 2 carts; 1 market trap; 1 empty cask; 1 Dutch oven; 1 funnel; 2 firkins and a cider jib; small sieve; 3 pairs new Bedford harrows; 1 chain harrow (out of repair).' You see all's straight enough, which it ban't in some sales. No man shall say he's got less than full value.
gpt
You'm the last to think of such a thing.
human
I am. It goes on like this: '5 mattocks; 4 digging picks; 4 head chains; 1 axe; sledge and wedges; also hooks, eyes, and hasps for hard wood.' Never used 'em all the time us been here. '2 sets of trap harness, much worn.' I ban't gwaine to sell the dogs--eh? Us won't sell Ship or your li'l terrier. What do 'e say?
gpt
No. Nobody would buy two auld dogs, for that matter.
human
Though how a upland dog like Ship be gwaine to faace the fiery sunshine on furrin gawld diggings, I caan't answer. Here goes again: '1 sofa; 1 armchair; 4 fine chairs with green cloth seats; 1 bedstead; 2 cots; 1 cradle; feather beds and palliasses and bolster pillows to match; wash-stands and sets of crockery, mostly complete; 2 swing glasses; 3 bedroom chairs; 1 set of breeching harness--'
gpt
Hadn't 'e better put that away from the furniture?
human
No gert odds. 'Also 1 set leading harness; 2 tressels and ironing board; 2 fenders; fire-irons and fire-dogs; 1 old oak chest; 1 wardrobe; 1 Brussels carpet (worn in 1 spot only)--'
gpt
Ban't worn worth namin'.
human
Ess fay, 'tis wheer I sit Sundays--'9 feet by 11; 3 four-prong dung forks.' I'll move them. They doan't come in none tu well theer, I allow. '5 cane-seated chairs, 1 specimen of wax fruit under glass.'
gpt
I caan't paart wi' that, lovey. Faither gived it to me; an' 'twas mother's wance on a time.
human
Well, bein' a forced sale it ought to go. An' seein' how Miller's left us to sail our awn boat to hell--but still, if you'm set on it.
gpt
Hush! You'll wake everybody. What do 'e find to be happy about?
human
I was thinkin' that down in them furrin, fiery paarts we'm gwaine to, as your wax plums an' pears'll damned soon run away. They'll melt for sartin!
gpt
Caan't be so hot as that! The li'l gal will never stand it. Read on now. Theer ban't much left, surely?
human
Scores o' things! '1 stuffed kingfisher in good case with painted picture at back; 1 fox mask; 1 mahogany 2-lap table; 1 warming-pan; Britannia metal teapot and 6 spoons ditto metal; 5 spoons--smaller--ditto metal.'
gpt
I found the one us lost.
human
Then 'tis '6 spoons--smaller--ditto metal.' Then, 'ironing stove; 5 irons; washing boiler; 4 fry pans; 2 chimney crooks; 6 saucepans; pestle and mortar; chimney ornaments; 4 coloured almanacs--one with picture of the Queen--'
gpt
They won't fetch nothin'.
human
They might. 'Knife sharper; screen; pot plants; 1 towel-rail; 1 runner; 2 forms; kitchen table; scales and weights and beam; 1 set of casters; 4 farm horses, aged; 3 ploughs; 1 hay wain; 1 stack of dry fern; 1-1/2 tons good manure; old iron and other sundries, including poultry, ducks, geese, and fowls.' That's all.
gpt
Not quite; but I caan't call to mind much you've left out 'cept all the china an' linen.
human
Ah! that's your job. An' I just sit here an' brought the things to my memory, wan by wan! An' that bit at the top came easy as cutting a stick!
gpt
I hadn't forgot that. Must take it along wi' us, or else send it down to mother. Couldn't look her in the faace if I sold that.
human
Ban't worth much.
gpt
Caan't say. Cost faither five pound, though that was long ago. Anyway I be gwaine to buy it in.