human
He's mostly engaged in that kind of work now,
gpt
Who lays the tablecloth?
human
I do; or Edith; sometimes we don't have any tablecloth, or any clean knives and forks. Perhaps they'll have one to-day because you have come.
gpt
I wouldn't give them increased trouble,
human
Papa told them to put their best foot forward because you are here. I don't think he minds at all about himself. I think papa is very unhappy.
gpt
Of course he's unhappy, because they have boycotted him. How should he not be unhappy.
human
It's worse than that,
gpt
What can be worse?
human
If you'll come with me I'll tell you. I don't want to say it here, because the girls will hear me;--and that old Peter will know everything that's said.
gpt
Come out into the grounds, and take a turn before dinner. At this Florian shook his head.
human
Why not, Flory.
gpt
There are fellows about,
human
What fellows?
gpt
The very fellows that said they'd kill me. Do you know that fellow Lax? He's the worst of them.
human
But he doesn't live here.
gpt
All the same, I saw him yesterday.
human
You were out then, yesterday?
gpt
Not to say out, said Flory.
human
I was in the orchard just behind the stables; and I could see across into the ten-acre piece. There, at the further side of the field, I saw a fellow, who I am sure was Lax. Nobody walks like him, he's got that quick, suspicious way of going. It was just nearly dark; it was well-nigh seven, and I had been with Peter in the stables, helping to make up the horses, and I am sure it was Lax.
gpt
He won't come near you and me on the broad walk,
human
Won't he? You don't know him. There are half-a-dozen places there where he could hit us from behind the wall. Come up into your room, and I'll tell you what it is that makes papa unhappy. Then Frank led the way upstairs to his bedroom, and Florian followed him. When inside he shut the door, and seated himself on the bed close to his brother.
gpt
Now I'll tell you,
human
What is it ails him?
gpt
He's frightened, said Florian,
human
My poor boy! Who could wish it? Here Florian shook his head.
gpt
Of course he doesn't wish it.
human
He made me tell about the meadow gates.
gpt
You had to tell that, Flory.
human
But it will bring them to murder me. If you had heard them make me promise and had seen their looks! Papa never thought about that till the man had come and worked it all out of me.
gpt
What man?
human
The head of the policemen, Yorke Clayton. Papa was so fierce upon me then, that he made me do it.
gpt
You had to do it, said Frank.
human
Let things go as they might, you had to do it. You would not have it said of you that you had joined these ruffians against your father.
gpt
I had sworn to Father Brosnan not to tell. But you care nothing for a priest, of course.
human
Nothing in the least.
gpt
Nor does father. But when I had told it all at his bidding, and had gone before the magistrates, and they had written it down, and that man Clayton had read it all and I had signed it, and papa had seen the look which Pat Carroll had turned upon me, then he became frightened. I knew that that man Lax was in the room at the moment. I did not see him, but I felt that he was there. Now I don't go out at all, except just into the orchard and front garden. I won't go even there, as I saw Lax about the place yesterday. I know that they mean to murder me.
human
There will be no danger, said Frank,
gpt
Papa hasn't got the money; I heard him tell Edith so. And they wouldn't know how to carry me to the station at Ballyglunin. Those boys from Ballintubber would shoot at me on the road. It's that that makes papa so unhappy.
human
I don't think it is likely,
gpt
But is anything the matter between you and Rachel?