human
What is it, my Porges?
gpt
Well,--I'm a bit worried, you know.
human
Worried?
gpt
Yes,--'fraid I shall be an old man before my time, Uncle Porges. Adam says it's worry that ages a man,--an' it killed a cat too!
human
And why do you worry?
gpt
Oh, it's my Auntie Anthea, a course!--she was crying again last night--
human
Crying! Bellew had been lying flat upon his back in the fragrant shadow of the hay-rick, but now he sat up--very suddenly, so suddenly that Small Porges started.
gpt
Crying! he repeated,
human
Oh yes! You see, she forgot to come an' 'tuck me up' last night, so I creeped downstairs,--very quietly, you know, to see why. An' I found her bending over the table, all sobbing, an' crying. At first she tried to pretend that she wasn't, but I saw the tears quite plain,--her cheeks were all wet, you know; an' when I put my arms round her--to comfort her a bit, an' asked her what was the matter, she only kissed me a lot, an' said 'nothing! nothing,--only a headache!'
gpt
And why was she crying, do you suppose, my Porges?
human
Oh!--money, a course!
gpt
What makes you think it was money?
human
Ah? said Bellew, staring straight before him. His beloved pipe had slipped from his fingers, and, for a wonder, lay all neglected.
gpt
It was after she had talked with Adam, was it, my Porges?
human
Yes,--that's why I knew it was 'bout money; Adam's always talking 'bout morgyges, an' bills, an' money. Oh Uncle Porges, how I do--hate money!
gpt
It is sometimes a confounded nuisance!
human
But I do wish we had some,--so we could pay all her bills, an' morgyges for her. She'd be so happy, you know, an' go about singing like she used to,--an' I shouldn't worry myself into an old man before my time,--all wrinkled, an' gray, you know; an' all would be revelry, an' joy, if only she had enough gold, an' bank-notes!
gpt
And she was--crying, you say!
human
Yes.
gpt
You are quite sure you saw the--tears, my Porges?
human
Oh yes! an' there was one on her nose, too,--a big one, that shone awful' bright,--twinkled, you know.
gpt
And she said it was only a headache, did she?
human
Yes, but that meant money,--money always makes her head ache, lately. Oh Uncle Porges!--I s'pose people do find fortunes, sometimes, don't they?
gpt
Why yes, to be sure they do.
human
Then I wish I knew where they looked for them, said he with a very big sigh indeed,
gpt
I've hunted an' hunted in all the attics, an' the cupboards, an' under hedges, an' in ditches, an' prayed, an' prayed, you know,--every night.
human
Then, of course, you'll be answered, my Porges.
gpt
Do you really s'pose I shall be answered? You see it's such an awful' long way for one small prayer to have to go,--from here to heaven. An' there's clouds that get in the way; an' I'm 'fraid my prayers aren't quite big, or heavy enough, an' get lost, an' blown away in the wind.
human
No, my Porges, said Bellew, drawing his arm about the small disconsolate figure,
gpt
Answered?--Do you mean,--oh Uncle Porges!--do you mean--the Money Moon?
human
Why yes, to be sure,--the Money Moon, my Porges,--it's bound to come, one of these fine nights.
gpt
Ah!--but when,--oh! when will the Money Moon ever come?
human
Well, I can't be quite sure, but I rather fancy, from the look of things, my Porges, that it will be pretty soon.
gpt
Oh, I do hope so!--for her sake, an' my sake. You see, she may go getting herself married to Mr. Cassilis, if something doesn't happen soon, an' I shouldn't like that, you know.
human
Neither should I, my Porges. But what makes you think so?
gpt
Why he's always bothering her, an' asking her to, you see. She always says 'No' a course, but--one of these fine days, I'm 'fraid she'll say 'Yes'--accidentally, you know.
human
Heaven forbid, nephew!
gpt
Does that mean you hope not?
human
Indeed yes.
gpt
Then I say heaven forbid, too,--'cause I don't think she'd ever be happy in Mr. Cassilis's great, big house. An' I shouldn't either.
human
Why, of course not!
gpt
Well, it could hardly be called a confirmed habit of mine.
human
That's one of the things I like about you so,--all the time you've been here you haven't asked my Auntie Anthea once, have you?
gpt
No, my Porges,--not yet.
human
Oh!--but you don't mean that you--ever will?
gpt
Would you be very grieved, and angry, if I did,--some day soon, my Porges?
human
Well, I--I didn't think you were that kind of a man!
gpt
I'm afraid I am, nephew.
human
Do you really mean that you want to--marry my Auntie Anthea?
gpt
I do.
human
As much as Mr. Cassilis does?
gpt
A great deal more, I think.
human
Uncle Porges, said he,
gpt
I'm--s'prised at you!
human
I rather feared you would be, nephew.
gpt
It's all so awful' silly, you know!--why do you want to marry her?
human
Because, like a Prince in a fairy tale, I'm--er--rather anxious to--live happy ever after.
gpt
Oh! said Small Porges, turning this over in his mind,
human
I never thought of that.
gpt
Marriage is a very important institution, you see, my Porges,--especially in this case, because I can't possibly live happy ever after, unless I marry--first--now can I?
human
No, I s'pose not! Small Porges admitted, albeit reluctantly, after he had pondered the matter a while with wrinkled brow,
gpt
Just because she happens to be your Auntie Anthea, of course.
human
Why then, if she's got to be married some day, so she can live happy ever after,--well,--I s'pose you'd better take her, Uncle Porges.
gpt
Thank you, old chap,--I mean to.
human
I'd rather you took her than Mr. Cassilis, an'--why there he is!
gpt
Who?
human
Mr. Cassilis. An' he's stopped, an' he's twisting his mestache.
gpt
Ah, Mr. Bellew! what might it be this morning,--the pitchfork--the scythe, or the plough?
human
Neither, sir,--this morning it is--matrimony!
gpt
Eh!--I beg your pardon,--matrimony?
human
With a large M, sir, nodded Bellew,
gpt
That is surely rather a--peculiar subject to discuss with a child, Mr. Bellew--
human
Meaning my nephew, sir?
gpt
I mean--young George, there.
human
Precisely,--my nephew, Small Porges.
gpt
I refer, said Mr. Cassilis, with slow, and crushing emphasis,
human
And mine, Mr. Cassilis,--mine by--er--mutual adoption, and inclination.
gpt
And I repeat that your choice of subjects is--peculiar, to say the least of it.
human
But then, mine is rather a peculiar nephew, sir. But, surely it was not to discuss nephews,--mine or anyone else's, that you are hither come, and our ears do wait upon you,--pray be seated, sir.
gpt
Thank you, I prefer to stand.
human
Strange! murmured Bellew, shaking his head,
gpt
I never stand if I can sit, or sit if I can lie down.
human
I should like you to define, exactly, your position--here at Dapplemere, Mr. Bellew.