human
I--I'm going to be a good boy,
gpt
I should think you would,
human
That's all right, grumbled Tommy, turning to Dorothy for comfort.
gpt
I didn't swaller any matchheads.
human
Why did you say you did?
gpt
Just to plague Alice. But I won't do it again. Ugh! that was nasty stuff she gave me. That's what she'd give me if I _was_ p'izened. I don't want to be p'izened,
human
And you don't want to say what isn't so, either, eh?
gpt
We-ell, said Master Tommy, slowly,
human
Quite right, said Dora, quickly.
gpt
But there's nightmares, too--bad dreams, you know. They are not so, but they aren't pleasant to dream, are they?
human
Oh, no! cried Tommy.
gpt
And I had a turrible bad dream--onct! And I was scart--yes, sir! And Billy heard me crying and he took me out of my crib and took me into bed with him.
human
I remember Tommy told about that. He said the cats got to fighting and were scratching and biting him.
gpt
And Billy woked me up and took me to bed with him, said Tommy, placidly.
human
I wish Billy would come home again.
gpt
When did this happen?
human
Just the other night,
gpt
But Billy's been away two weeks.
human
It was jes' afore he went-ed away.
gpt
It wasn't long before Billy went,
human
I know when! cried Tommy.
gpt
It was the night afore I felled and scraped my knee on the doorstep.
human
Why, Tommy! cried his sister, springing out of her chair.
gpt
Are you sure of that?
human
Yes'm. I be sure, declared Tommy.
gpt
I dreamed the cats were scratchin' me; an' then that very nex' mornin' the old doorstep scratched me!
human
Oh, girls! she cried.
gpt
I remember that night of Tommy's dream very well. He hurt his knee on Wednesday--the morning following the burglary. Billy took Tommy into bed with him before midnight, and they slept together all night. Doesn't that prove that Billy was not out of the house on the night of the burglary? Doesn't it?
human
Do you suppose the police would accept Tommy's testimony?