human
Ax your pardon, sir; but what be you arter here?
gpt
Murder! shut the screen!
human
I say, what be you arter here, mak' so boold?
gpt
Taking sun-pictures, my good sir, and you have spoilt one for me.
human
Sun-picturs, saith a?
gpt
Daguerreotypes of the place, for Lord Scoutbush.
human
Oh!--if it's his lordship's wish, of course! Only things is very well as they are, and needs no mending, thank God. Only, ax pardon, sir. You see, we don't generally allow no interfering on our pier without lave, sir; the pier being ourn, we pays for the repairing. So, if his lordship intends making of alterations, he'd better to have spoken to us first.
gpt
Alterations? said Claude, laughing;
human
Glad you think so, sir! But whatever be you arter here?
gpt
Taking views! I'm a painter, an artist! I'll take your portrait, if you like!
human
Bless my heart, what vules we be! 'Tis a paainter gentleman, lads!
gpt
What on earth did you take me for? A Russian spy?
human
We'm old-fashioned folks here, you see, sir; and don't like no new-fangled meddlecomes. You'll excuse us; you'm very welcome to do what you like, and glad to see you here.
gpt
No, no! you must stay and have your portrait taken; you'll make a fine picture.
human
Hum; might ha', they used to say, thirty years agone; I'm over old now. Still, my old woman might like it. Make so bold, sir, but what's your charge?
gpt
I charge nothing. Five minutes' talk with an honest man will pay me.
human
Hum: if you'd a let me pay you, sir, well and good; but I maunt take up your time for nought; that's not fair.
gpt
Soon the children gathered round, and when Valencia and Major Campbell came on the pier, they found Claude in the midst of a ring of little dark-haired angels; while a dozen honest fellows grinned when their own visages appeared, and chaffed each other about the sweethearts who were to keep them while they were out at sea. And in the midst little Claude laughed and joked, and told good stories, and gave himself up, the simple, the sunny-hearted fellow, to the pleasure of pleasing, till he earned from one and all the character of
human
Here's her ladyship! make room for her ladyship! But Claude held up a warning hand. He had just arranged a masterpiece,--half-a-dozen of the prettiest children, sitting beneath a broken boat, on spars, sails, blocks, lobster-pots, and what not, arranged in picturesque confusion; while the black-bearded sea-kings round were promising them rock and bulls-eyes, if they would only sit still like
gpt
You have spoilt my group, Miss St. Just, and you must mend it!
human
Now, be good children! Look straight at me, and listen! And lifting up her finger, she began to sing the first song of which she could think,
gpt
The Landing of the Pilgrim Fathers.