human
Jacob, sit down by me; old woman, bring yourself to an anchor in the high chair. Tom, sit anywhere, so you sit still.
gpt
And leave my net alone, Tom, cried his mother, in parenthesis.--
human
You see, Jacob, the whole long and short of it is this--I feel my toes more and more, and flannel's no longer warm. I can't tide it any longer, and I think it high time to lie up in ordinary and moor abreast of the old woman. Now, there's Tom, in the first place, what's to do with he? I think that I'll build him a wherry, and as I'm free of the river he can finish his apprenticeship with my name on the boat; but to build him a wherry would be rather a heavy pull for me.
gpt
If you mean to build it yourself, I think it will prove a _heavy pull_ for me,
human
Silence, Tom; I built you, and God knows you're light enough.
gpt
And, Tom, leave my net alone,
human
Father made me light-fingered, mother.
gpt
Ay, and light-hearted too, boy,
human
Well, continued old Tom,
gpt
Lord, father, haven't you got one already? interrupted young Tom;
human
Silence, Tom, with your frippery; what do you think. Jacob?
gpt
Could you not say, `Boats repaired here?'
human
Yes, but that won't exactly do; they like to employ a builder--and there's the puzzle.
gpt
Not half so puzzling as this net, observed Tom, who had taken up the needle, unseen by his mother, and begun to work;
human
I've made only ten stitches, and six of them are long ones.
gpt
Tom, Tom, you good-for-nothing--why don't you let my net alone? cried Mrs Beazeley;
human
All right, mother.
gpt
No, Tom, all's wrong; look at these meshes?
human
Well, then, all's fair, mother.
gpt
No, all's foul, boy; look how it's tangled.
human
Still, I say, all's fair, mother, for it is but fair to give the fish one or two chances to get away, and that's just what I've done; and now, father, I'll settle your affair to your own satisfaction, as I have mother's.
gpt
That will be queer satisfaction, Tom, I guess; but let's hear what you have to say.
human
Then, father, it seems that you're no boat-builder, but you want people to fancy that you are--a'n't that the question?
gpt
Why, 'tis something like it, Tom, but I do nobody no harm.
human
Certainly not; it's only the boats which will suffer. Now, get a large board, with `Boats _built to order_, and boats repaired, by Tom Beazeley.' You know if any man is fool enough to order a boat, that's his concern; you didn't say you're a boat-builder, although you have no objection to try your hand.
gpt
What do you say Jacob?
human
I think that Tom has given very good advice, and I would follow it.
gpt
Ah! Tom has a head, said Mrs Beazeley, fondly.
human
Tom, let go my net again, will you? What a boy you are! Now touch it again if you dare,
gpt
Tom has a head, indeed, said young Tom,
human
Lord, Molly, what a fish--