human
Here, catch hold of me, you two, Rodd gasped out,
gpt
Hah! What's the matter? cried Morny.
human
Are you taken bad?
gpt
Horrid. Don't talk to me. Get me out of sight. I am going off.
human
Don't be frightened, gasped out Rodd.
gpt
Oh, that Spanish chap! He'll be the death of me!
human
Why, you are laughing! cried Morny angrily.
gpt
How dare you frighten us like this!
human
I--I--I--I-- gasped out Rodd--
gpt
What game's he been up to, Mr Rodd, sir?
human
Oh, it was very stupid of me, said Rodd, wiping his eyes;
gpt
Just like 'em, sir, said Joe, as Rodd explained himself more fully.
human
There, said Rodd, wiping his eyes again,
gpt
I am all right now; but it's very comic. The more you feel you mustn't laugh, the worse you are. I suppose laughing must do one good. I always feel so much better after having a good grin.
human
Do you good, Mr Rodd, sir! I should just think it does! Why, it's natur'. Does you good to have a long talk sometimes, don't it; eh, Mr Morny, sir?
gpt
Oh yes, I suppose so,
human
And you know it does you a lot of good to get your teeth to work when you are hungry, Mr Rodd.
gpt
Yes, Joe, cried the lad eagerly.
human
What's for breakfast?
gpt
Ah, you wait a bit, sir, and you will see. But as I was saying about laughing, what's your smiling tackle for, and your grinning kit for, if they aren't to use and set you right when otherwise you would be all in the dumps? Yes, sir; give me a good laugh. But one don't always get one's share along with our old man. Still we like him, for he always means right by us. Ay, there's worse chaps in the world than old Chubb, and I'm just ready and waiting to drink his health and long life to him in a pannikin of the finest coffee a coxswain ever brewed; and as for the frizzled ham that cookie's got thriddled on sticks over them embers to eat with the dough-cakes he's baking in the ashes--Here, let's get back, for fear there's an accident.
human
Accident? said Morny.
gpt
Why, what accident could happen?
human
Out of sight, sir, out of mind; and that aren't a French proverb, but you might like to turn it into one as your countrymen could use. They might forget, sir, as we are here.