human
Winifred seems very intelligent,
gpt
That she does, the old woman assented cordially.
human
Times there be when I'm afeard she knows too much.
gpt
Too much?
human
Some says that it serves me right for lettin' her go to school so long to the mad schoolmaster.
gpt
The mad schoolmaster!
human
Whist, ma'am dear! Don't speak that name so loud,--don't, for the love of God!
gpt
Why, Mrs. Meehan, I said warmly,
human
I'm not sayin' that I believe this, that or the other thing, she declared, almost doggedly;
gpt
Was that the mad schoolmaster I saw with Winifred?
human
Sure I suppose 'twas himself and no other, declared Mrs. Meehan, with a half sigh.
gpt
Miss Winifred has a real heart-love for him; and sometimes it makes me uneasy, because people say he's too knowledgeable to have come honestly by his wisdom. There's no tellin'. But be that as it may, there's no other evil told of the man. He's been like a father to the poor little one and given her all the schoolin' she's had.
human
He _is_ a schoolmaster, then?
gpt
To be sure, ma'am, and a mighty fine one entirely; so that for many a year them that wanted their childer to have more book-learnin' than they have themselves, as folks do nowadays, sent their gossoons to him, and the girls as well. And a kind and good master he was, I'm told: never a cross word passin' his lips. And a fine scholar, with a power of learnin' in his head.
human
Does he still keep the school?
gpt
He doesn't, ma'am, more's the pity. But 'twas this way. One began to be afeard of him, sayin' that he wasn't lucky; and another began to be afeard. The word flew from mouth to mouth, till but few enough remained. Then of a sudden he up and told the people that he wasn't goin' to teach no more in the hills of Wicklow; and he closed up his school and off with him for a month or so. He came back again, do you mind? But he never would have no pupils except Miss Winifred. And when the people seen that they tried to get him to take back the school. But it was all of no use: he's that set agin it that Father Owen himself could do nothin' with him.
human
But how does he support himself?