human
It is a machine, mother, which--
gpt
Which bursts,
human
But that is no explanation, dear, returned my mother;
gpt
Bella, said Nicholas, who spoke English perfectly, though with a slightly foreign accent,
human
Well, a torpedo, said I,
gpt
Jeff, said my mother, seriously,
human
Mother, I use the word advisedly and dispassionately. It is a term frequently given to such engines, because of their horrible nature, which suggests the idea that they were originated in the region of Satanic influence. A torpedo, then, is a pretty large case, or box, or cask, or reservoir, of one form or another, filled with gunpowder, or gun-cotton, or dynamite, which is used chiefly under water, for blowing-up purposes. Sometimes men use torpedoes to blow up rocks, and sunken wrecks; and sometimes, I grieve to say it, they blow up ships and sailors.
gpt
Dreadful! my dear, said my mother;
human
Very well, that's settled, said I.
gpt
Now, as to the other letter about the yacht. I will buy it, mother, and go on a cruise to the Mediterranean, on one condition, namely, that you and Nicholas and Bella go with me.
human
Impossible! exclaimed my mother, firmly;
gpt
I never could bear the sea.
human
But you've had little experience of it,
gpt
Well, not much--but I cannot bear it.
human
Now, mother, said I, coaxingly,
gpt
Well, then, I will go,
human
That's right, said I, sitting down to write.
gpt
Now, then, all of you get ready to go to London this afternoon. We shall spend a day or two there, because, before leaving, I must see the first Lord of the Admiralty on particular business. Afterwards we shall run down to Portsmouth by the afternoon express, spend the night there, and so be ready to face the torpedoes in the morning.