human
You are disposed to be facetious,
gpt
Not at all, by no means, said he, taking off his hat and throwing it recklessly on the floor.
human
You are Mr Rover, I presume?
gpt
The same, sir, at your service.
human
Are you? oh, that's yet to be seen! Pray, is your Christian name Ralph?
gpt
It is,
human
Ah! just so. Christian name Ralph, t'other name Rover--Ralph Rover. Very good. Age twenty-two yesterday, eh?
gpt
My birthday _was_ yesterday, and my age _is_ twenty-two. You appear to know more of my private history than I have the pleasure of knowing of yours. Pray, sir, may I--but, bless me! are you unwell?
human
Oh no! not at all; perfectly well--never was better in my life, he said, becoming all at once preternaturally grave.
gpt
You were once in the Pacific--lived on a coral island--
human
I did.
gpt
Oh, don't trouble yourself to answer. Just shut up for a minute or two. You were rather a soft green youth then, and you don't seem to be much harder or less verdant now.
human
Sir!
gpt
Just so, continued he,
human
I know a rascal _here_, I exclaimed, starting up,
gpt
What! cried the little stranger, also starting up and capsizing the chair;
human
Ralph Rover, has time and sunburning and war so changed my visage that you cannot recognise Peterkin?
gpt
Peterkin--Peterkin Gay!