human
It is just this, sir, said Hugh, rubbing his mouth with his sleeve preparatory to making a speech,
gpt
These speeches are all idle, responded Mr. Saumarez testily.
human
I made up my mind long ago. I know you to be good-for-nothing men, through whose laziness your old father's farm has got into its present condition. You deserve no pity, and you deserve no delay. For the present state of affairs you have only yourselves to blame. You must take the consequences of your conduct.
gpt
Oh, sir. began Hugh, who was the spokesman of the rest,
human
Into this, replied Mr. Saumarez,
gpt
I cannot go. When the mortgage came into my hands--which it did along with some adjoining property about a year ago, on my return from abroad--I made a particular point of asking my agent what sort of men conducted the farm. And hearing from him that they were four brothers, all men of questionable character, named Brownlow, who owed their present degradation to their own laziness and folly, I said I wished to hear no more, and that the farm, which stood conveniently adjacent to a manor which is also mine, must be appropriated with no more delay than the usual legal routine permitted of. That is what I said to my agent. I presume--in fact, I know--he has acted on my orders. I have nothing more to say about it, so I wish you a good evening.
human
We have children--two of us are married men,
gpt
We have had sickness in the family for months past,
human
It is not our fault--the harvests have been bad year after year.
gpt
I don't know, said Thomas, who had not hitherto spoken,
human
What? inquired Mr. Saumarez sharply, turning round,
gpt
Is your old father still alive?
human
Yes, he is,
gpt
I understood from my agent, replied Mr. Saumarez, his voice getting thick as he spoke,
human
How do we treat him, sir? inquired Hugh Brownlow and the rest, speaking slowly and gazing at Mr. Saumarez as if they had seen a ghost.
gpt
Why, as to that----
human
As to that, I said, appearing from the drawing-room with old Mr. Brownlow on my arm--for in deference to his expressed wish, after the departure of his sons, I had travelled with him by train to Ashcroft in order that he too might plead, and we had just arrived--
gpt
Yes, exclaimed the old man on my arm, his eyes streaming with tears,
human
It is true, said Arthur Brownlow in a voice choked with emotion;