human
I was thinking maybe you'd be coming across to see me, Thora, one o' these bonnie days, now that we never meet at the school. It was good o' ye to come.
gpt
What has gone wrong, Thora? I continued.
human
Has Carver been ill using you again?
gpt
Yes, he's aye using me ill, she said, sobbing and wiping her eyes.
human
I was in the garden just now, nipping some dead leaves from the briar bush, when he came in at the gate. He never likes to see me among my flowers, and when he found me there he got into a passion, and walked over the beds, and kicked the plants about with his sea boots. Then he ordered me away into the house, and said that if I wanted work to do, I might go and clean out the stable. I told him that was a man's work, not a lassie's; and at that he took up a stick, and struck me with it across the back.
gpt
If I were a lad like you, Halcro, she continued,
human
They say that it was all through Carver that my father was drowned,
gpt
Tell me, Halcro, what was the quarrel between your father and mine? What way did it come about?
human
Well, I canna tell ye the ins and outs o' it all, but my father had some secret about Carver, and Carver was aye afraid o' him. You see, Thora, folks say that when a man saves another from the sea, there's sure to be a quarrel between them. And my father saved Carver Kinlay--not, perhaps, from the sea, but he saved his life.
gpt
How was that, Halcro?
human
It was when you were a bairn, Thora. A ship was wrecked here on the Gaulton rocks, and all your family were aboard. Your mother and Tom were picked up by the Curlew, but Carver and you werena found for some days after the wreck. My father found you both in a cave, down in the cliff, and if it hadna been for him, I suppose you wouldna be here now, Thora, to say that Carver had beaten you.
gpt
That's a strange thing you're telling me, Halcro. I never heard of it before. And what ship was it that was wrecked?
human
The Undine.
gpt
The Undine! I've seen that name on a box at Crua Breck that father keeps his money in. But tell me all about it. Did Captain Ericson tell you about the wreck?
human
No. I only heard of it a week before he was drowned. It was Colin Lothian and my uncle Mansie that told it me. Auld Colin kens all about it, and more than he told to me.
gpt
Colin is a good old man, Halcro. When next I see him I will ask him to tell me what it was that he kept from you. Colin would keep nothing from me, I believe.
human
Maybe not. But listen, and I will give you the story as I heard it.
gpt
Thank you, Halcro! she said when I finished.
human
That is all very new to me. I remember nothing of being in that cave. How cold I must have been! But Carver was good to me then. I can almost forgive him for trampling over my flowers.
gpt
Have you ever been in that cave, Halcro? Where is it?
human
I've not been in it, I said;