human
You have! she averred.
gpt
I thought so! And after Father was so kind as to let you have the money to repair and paint your house!
human
Beth, we ain't exactly quarreled. Leastwise, he ain't,
gpt
Uncle Josiah, why will you and Father never understand each other? Father is so kind and good, and so are you, and yet you are never able to agree. Why is it?
human
Too much alike, I cal'late. But honest, Beth, I ain't got nothing particular against your father, and if I had I'd sink my feelings to Davy's locker for your sake. The trouble is, I've been expecting too much, and I ain't got any right to ask your father to put himself out for an old hulk like me.
gpt
What sheer nonsense! I've half a mind to scold you. Of course, Father is willing to put himself out for you. Only this morning he said he would do all in his power to get a ship for you to command.
human
He's said something like that to me, too, several times.
gpt
Then he'll do it, if you will only be patient. Father always keeps his word.
human
You ain't seen the new parson yet, have you?
gpt
How could I, when I've just reached home? Father tells me he is a real Prince Charming,
human
Humph!
gpt
Is he, really, Uncle Josiah?
human
He ain't so bad on looks, if that's what you're driving at.
gpt
Father says he must be very strong, too.
human
I cal'late he ain't lacking on that p'int, neither,
gpt
Oh! By the way, what did you and your handsome minister do to Father last night?
human
Is your pa ailing, too?
gpt
He says he is quite lame, and when I asked him what the matter was, he only smiled, and told me to find out from you. Did your minister take him for a burglar, too?
human
Is that all your father said about it?
gpt
Yes, except that it was his own fault.
human
I feared he wa'n't going to see it that way last night. Eadie Beaver put the parson in here while I was in the city on a special trip. She came over the day I left last week, and said it would be real nice if he could live with me and eat with her. I told her I'd see about shipping a parson in my house, meaning I'd have nothing to do with him. Well, she went ahead and bunked him here, thinking I'd meant it was all right. It 'pears she done it against your father's ideas, too. So he come over last night and tried to get Mr. McGowan to move out. That made me madder than what Eadie had done, so I asked him right then if he was willing to stay. He said he was. Your pa got sore, and started real dignified to go home. The candle that Mr. McGowan had been using was on the floor, and your pa's heel hit it. His cane went up and he went down. His high hat took a swim in a bucket of soapy water that the parson had been using to swab decks with.
gpt
Father is so very dignified! It must have been quite funny, she commented, between paroxysms of laughter.
human
I wish I could have seen him!