human
Look, Tom; look at the teal!
gpt
Ay, said the squire;
human
Ay, squire, you're right; but how are we to get rid of all this watter?
gpt
Ah, we must see, said the squire; and Dave and John Warren exchanged glances and shook their heads.
human
The sooner the draining works are commenced the better.
gpt
Toft Fen wean't niver be drained, mester,
human
Oh, you think so, do you, Dave? said the squire quietly.
gpt
I daresay hundreds of years ago, before the sea-wall was made, some men said that no farming could be done in the fen, but the sea has been kept out for all these years.
human
Ay, but it's come through at last in its natural way, mester,
gpt
Yes, John, said the squire:
human
Yes, father, I hear, said the lad; and he looked at Dave and John Warren, in whose boat he was, and read incredulity there; and as he gazed over the inundated fen, and thought of fishing, and shooting, and boating there, he felt himself thoroughly on the fen-men's side, while, feeling ashamed of this, he bent over the boat side, scooped up some water in his hand and drank, but only to exclaim,
gpt
Ugh!
human
Ah! what does it taste like, Dick?
gpt
Half salt, father.
human
Then it is the sea broke in, said the squire.
gpt
Ahoy! all right! he shouted, standing up and waving his cap.
human
Shout, Dick, and let your mother see you're here. Come, cheer up, Mrs Tallington; there's a warm welcome for you yonder from the wife; the water will soon go down, and we're going to try and protect ourselves from such mischief coming again.