human
Now, oughtn't I to have thrashed them, mamma? cried Rob, encouraged by the indignation in his mother's face:
gpt
Keep cool, Rob, said Mrs. March;
human
I can't keep cool, mamma, said Rob, almost crying;
gpt
Perhaps not, dear; but I'd try, replied his mother.
human
Nothing else does any good ever.
gpt
Well, mayn't I wear the yoke, anyhow? said Rob.
human
I won't go into Rosita ever again unless I can!
gpt
Rob, said his mother, earnestly,
human
Yes,
gpt
That's just what I said, interrupted Nelly:
human
I said it would be very silly to wear them any more. The boys would never let us alone if we did.
gpt
Nelly is right, said Mrs. March:
human
I don't care if it does make them all set on me, said Rob:
gpt
Of course you'll do as you like about that, my dear boy, replied Mrs. March:
human
Well, said Rob, half crying,
gpt
I know it, replied his mother;
human
Anyhow, I'll ask papa,
gpt
Yes, replied his mother,
human
I'm not going to think any more about it, said Nelly.
gpt
I don't care for those boys: they're too rude for any thing. I sha'n't ever look at one of them; but you wouldn't catch me wearing that yoke again, I tell you!
human
That's because you're a girl, said Rob.
gpt
If you were a boy, you'd feel just exactly as I do. Oh, goodness! don't I wish you had been a boy, Nell? If you had, we two together could thrash that whole crowd quicker'n wink!
human
I shouldn't fight, if I were a boy, said Nelly:
gpt
I think it is beneath a boy to fight. It's just like dogs and cats: they fight with their teeth and claws; and boys fight with their fists.
human
Teeth, too,
gpt
Do they? cried Nelly, in a tone of horror.
human
Do they really? Oh, Rob! did you ever bite a boy?
gpt
Not many times, said Rob;
human
Well, I'm glad I'm not a boy, said Nelly:
gpt
I don't like to have the boy give it up, said Mr. March.
human
You don't know boys as well as I do, Sarah. They'll taunt him every time he goes through the street. I half wish Nelly hadn't hindered him from giving one of them a good, sound thrashing. He could do it.
gpt
Why, Robert! exclaimed Mrs. March-
human
Well, no, laughed Mr. March:
gpt
Well, for mercy's sake, don't tell Rob so, said Mrs. March:
human
he said: