human
Here the Dominie was silent for some time.
gpt
Ah me! yea, and verily, I do recollect--with pain of head and more pain of heart--that which I would fain forget, which is, that I did forget myself; and indeed have forgotten all that passed the latter portion of the night. Friend Dux hath proved no friend, but hath led me into the wrong path: and as or the potation called _Grog--Eheu, Jacobe_! how have I fallen--fallen in my own opinion--fallen in thine--how can I look thee in the face! O, Jacob! what must thou think of him who hath hitherto been thy preceptor and thy guide!
human
It is not your fault, sir, replied I, to comfort him;
gpt
Nay, Jacob, I cannot lay that flattering unction to my wounded heart. I ought to have known, nay, now I recall to mind, that thou wouldst have warned me--even to the pulling off of the tail of my coat--yet I heeded thee not, and I am humbled--even I, the master over seventy boys!
human
Nay, sir, it was not I who pulled off the tail of your coat; it was the dog.
gpt
Jacob, I have heard of the wonderful sagacity of the canine species, yet could not I ever have believed that a dumb brute would have perceived my folly, and warned me from intoxication. _Mirabile dictu_! Tell me, Jacob, thou who hast profited by these lessons which thy master could give--although he could not follow up his precept by example--tell me, what did take place? Let me know the full extent of my backsliding.
human
You fell asleep, sir, and we put you to bed.
gpt
Who did me that office, Jacob?
human
Young Tom and I, sir; as for old Tom, he was not in a state to help anybody.
gpt
I am humbled, Jacob--
human
Nonsense, old gentleman; why make a fuss about nothing? said old Tom, who, overhearing our conversation came into the cabin.
gpt
You had a _drop_ too much, that's all, and what o' that? It's a poor heart that never rejoiceth. Rouse a bit, wash your face with old Thames water, and in half-an-hour you'll be as fresh as a daisy.
human
My head acheth! exclaimed the Dominie,
gpt
That is the punishment of making too free with the bottle, for sartain; but if it is an offence, then it carries its own punishment and that's quite sufficient. Every man knows that when the heart's over light at night, that the head's over heavy in the morning. I have known and proved it a thousand times. Well, what then? I puts the good against the bad, and I takes my punishment like a man.
human
Friend Dux, for so I will still call thee, thou lookest not at the offence in a moral point of vision.
gpt
What's moral?
human
I would point out that intoxication is sinful.
gpt
Intoxication sinful! I suppose that means that it's a sin to get drunk. Now, master, it's my opinion that as God Almighty has given us good liquor, it was for no other purpose than to drink it; and therefore it would be ungrateful to him, and a sin, not to get drunk--that is, with discretion.
human
How canst thou reconcile getting drunk with discretion, good Dux?
gpt
I mean, master, when there's work to be done, the work should be done; but when there's plenty of time, and everything is safe, and all ready for a start the next morning, I can see no possible objection to a jollification. Come, master, rouse out; the lighter's abreast of the Hospital almost by this time, and we must put you on shore.
human
Thou didst mean kindly, and therefore I wish thee a kind farewell, good Dux.
gpt
God be with you, master, replied old Tom;
human
Nay, nay, replied the Dominie,