human
Well, Mary, how do you get on? said Stapleton, as we ascended to the sitting-room.
gpt
Here's young Faithful come to take up with us.
human
Well, father, his bed's all ready; and I have taken so much dirt from the room that I expect we shall be indicted for filling up the river. I wonder what nasty people lived in this house before us.
gpt
Very nice rooms, nevertheless; ain't they, boy?
human
O yes, very nice for idle people; you may amuse yourself looking out on the river, or watching what floats past, or fishing with a pin at high water,
gpt
I like the river, replied I, gravely;
human
I was born on it, and hope to get my bread on it.
gpt
And I like this sitting-room, rejoined Stapleton;
human
At all events you'll have no excuse for dirtying the room, father; and as for the lad, I suppose his smoking days have not come yet.
gpt
No, replied I;
human
O yes, replied she,
gpt
Don't let your tongue run quite so fast, Mary; you're not over fond of work yourself.
human
No; there's only one thing I dislike more, replied she,
gpt
Well, I shall leave you and Jacob to make it out together; I am going back to the Feathers.
human
Well, said Mary,
gpt
I am ready to talk when I have anything to talk about,
human
That's not enough. I'm ready to talk about nothing, and you must do the same.
gpt
Very well, replied I.
human
How old are you?
gpt
How old am I! O, then you consider me nothing. I'll try hard but you shall alter your opinion, my fine fellow. However, to answer your question, I believe I'm about fifteen.
human
Not more? well, there's an old proverb, which I will not repeat.
gpt
I know it, so you may save yourself the trouble, you saucy boy; but now, for your age?
human
Mine! let me see; well, I believe that I am nearly seventeen.
gpt
Are you really so old? well, now, I should have thought you no more than fourteen.
human
Pooh! replied I;
gpt
I wasn't talking about men, that I know of; but still, I do know something about them. I've had two sweethearts already.
human
Indeed! and what have you done with them?
gpt
Done with them! I jilted the first for the second, because the second was better looking; and when Mr Turnbull told me so much about you, I jilted the second to make room for you: but now I mean to try if I can't get him back again.
human
With all my heart, replied I laughing.
gpt
I shall prove but a sorry sweetheart, for I have never made love in my life.
human
Have you ever had anybody to make love to?
gpt
No.
human
That's the reason, Mr Jacob, depend upon it. All you have to do is to swear that I'm the prettiest girl in the world, that you like me better than anybody else in the world; do anything in the world that I wish you to do--spend all the money you have in the world in buying me ribbons and fairings, and then--
gpt
And then, what?
human
Why, then, I shall hear all you have to say, take all you have to give, and laugh at you in the bargain.
gpt
But I shouldn't stand that long.
human
O, yes, you would. I'd put you out of humour, and coax you in again; the fact is, Jacob Faithful, I made my mind up, before I saw you, that you should be my sweetheart, and when I will have a thing, I will, so you may as well submit to it at once. If you don't, as I keep the key of the cupboard, I'll half starve you; that's the way to tame any brute, they say. And I tell you why, Jacob, I mean that you shall be my sweetheart; it's because Mr Turnbull told me that you knew Latin; now, tell me, what is Latin?
gpt
Latin is a language which people spoke in former times, but now they do not.
human
Well, then, you shall make love to me in Latin, that's agreed.
gpt
And how do you mean to answer me?
human
O, in plain English, to be sure.
gpt
But how are you to understand me?
human
O, if you make love properly, I shall soon understand you; I shall read the English of it in your eyes.
gpt
Very well, I have no objection; when am I to begin?
human
Why, directly, you stupid fellow, to be sure. What a question!
gpt
Now, says I,
human
Something impudent, I'm sure,
gpt
Not at all, replied I,
human
I only asked for this, and I snatched a kiss, in return for which I received a box on the ear, which made it tingle for five minutes.
gpt
Nay, replied I,
human
And I answered you, as I said I would, in plain English, replied Mary, reddening up to the forehead, but directly after bursting out into a loud laugh.
gpt
Now, Mr Jacob, I plainly see that you know nothing about making love. Bless me, a year's dangling, and a year's pocket-money should not have given you what you have had the impudence to take in so many minutes. But it was my own fault, that's certain, and I have no one to thank but myself. I hope I didn't hurt you--I'm very sorry if I did; but no more making love in Latin. I've had quite enough of that.
human
Well, then, suppose we make friends,
gpt
That's what I really wished to do, although I've been talking so much nonsense, replied Mary.
human
I know we shall like one another, and be very good friends. You can't help feeling kind towards a girl you've kissed; and I shall try by kindness to make up to you for the box on the ear; so now, sit down, and let's have a long talk. Mr Turnbull told us that he wished you to serve out your apprenticeship on the river with my father, so that, if you agree, we shall be a long while together. I take Mr Turnbull's word, not that I can find it out yet, that you are a very good-tempered, good-looking, clever, modest lad; and as an apprentice who remains with my father must live with us, of course I had rather it should be one of that sort than some ugly, awkward brute who--
gpt
Is not fit to make love to you,
human
Who is not fit company for me, replied Mary.
gpt
I want no more love from you at present. The fact is that father spends all the time he can spare from the wherry at the ale-house, smoking; and it's very dull for me, and having nothing to do, I look out of the window, and make faces at the young men as they pass by, just to amuse myself. Now, there was no great harm in that a year or two ago; but now, you know, Jacob--
human
Well now, what then?
gpt
O, I'm bigger, that's all? and what might be called sauciness in a girl may be thought something more of in a young woman. So I've been obliged to leave it off; but being obliged to remain home, with nobody to talk to, I never was so glad as when I heard that you were to come; so you see, Jacob, we must be friends. I daren't quarrel with you long, although I shall sometimes, just for variety, and to have the pleasure of making it up again. Do you hear me--or what are you thinking of?
human
I'm thinking that you're a very odd girl.
gpt
I dare say that I am, but how can I help that? Mother died when I was five years old, and father couldn't afford to put me out, so he used to lock me in all day till he came home from the river; and it was not till I was seven years old, and of some use, that the door was left open. I never shall forget the day when he told me that in future he should trust me, and leave the door open. I thought I was quite a woman, and have thought so ever since. I recollect that I often peeped out, and longed to run about the world; but I went two or three yards from the door, and felt so frightened, that I ran back as fast as I could. Since that I have seldom quitted the house for an hour, and never have been out of Fulham.
human
Then you have never been at school?
gpt
O, no--never. I often wish that I had. I used to see the little girls coming home, as they passed our door, so merrily, with their bags from the school-house; and I'm sure, if it were only to have the pleasure of going there and back again for the sake of the run, I'd have worked hard, if for nothing else.
human
Would you like to learn to read and write?
gpt
Will you teach me?
human
Yes, I will, with pleasure, replied I, laughing.
gpt
We will pass the evening better than making love, after all, especially if you hit so hard. How came you so knowing in those matters?
human
I don't know, replied Mary, smiling;
gpt
I suppose, as father says, it's human nature, for I never learnt anything; but you will teach me to read and write?
human
I will teach you all I know myself, Mary, if you wish to learn. Everything but Latin--we've had enough of that.
gpt
Oh! I shall be so much obliged to you. I shall love you so!
human
There you are again.
gpt
No, no, I didn't mean that, replied Mary, earnestly.
human
I meant that-- after all, I don't know what else to say. I mean that I shall love you for your kindness, without your loving me again, that's it.
gpt
I understand you; but now, Mary, as we are to be such good friends, it is necessary that your father and I should be good friends; so I must ask you what sort of a person he is, for I know but little of him, and, of course, wish to oblige him.
human
Well then, to prove to you that I'm sincere, I will tell you something; My father, in the first place, is a very good tempered sort of man. He works pretty well, but might gain more, but he likes to smoke at the public-house. All he requires of me is his dinner ready, his linen clean, and the house tidy. He never drinks too much, and is always civil spoken; but he leaves me too much alone, and talks too much about human nature, that's all.
gpt
But he's so deaf--he can't talk to you.
human
Give me your hand--now promise--for I'm going to do a very foolish thing, which is to trust a man--promise you'll never tell it again.
gpt
Well, I promise,
human
Well, then--mind--you've promised. Father is no more deaf than you or I.
gpt
Indeed! replied I;
human
I know he does, and makes everybody believe that he is so; but it is to make money.
gpt
How can he make money by that?
human
There's many people in business who go down the river, and they wish to talk of their affairs without being overheard as they go down. They always call for Deaf Stapleton: and there's many a gentleman and lady, who have much to say to each other, without wishing people to listen-- you understand me?
gpt
O yes, I understand--Latin!
human
Exactly--and they call for Deaf Stapleton; and by this means he gets more good fares than any other waterman, and does less work.
gpt
But how will he manage now that I am with him?
human
O, I suppose it will depend upon his customers; if a single person wants to go down, you will take the sculls; if they call for oars, you will both go; if he considers Deaf Stapleton only is wanted, you will remain on shore; or, perhaps, he will insist upon your being deaf too.
gpt
But I do not like deceit.
human
No, it's not right; although it appears to me that there is a great deal of it. Still I should like you to sham deaf, and then tell me all that people say. It would be so funny. Father never will tell a word.
gpt
So far, your father, to a certain degree, excuses himself.
human
Well, I think he will soon tell you what I have now told you, but till then you must keep your promise; and now you must do as you please, as I must go down in the kitchen, and get dinner on the fire.
gpt
I have nothing to do, replied I;
human
To be sure you can, and talk to me, which is better still. Come down and wash the potatoes for me, and then I'll find you some more work. Well, I do think we shall be very happy.