human
Very bright, he said stoutly.
gpt
The hay's best ever come off my ground, thanks to the manure from Monks Barton; and look at the wurzels! Miller hisself said he've never seed a more promising crop, high or low. An' the things be in prime kelter, tu; an' better than four hunderd pound of uncle's money still left.
human
Long may it be left, I'm sure. 'Tis terrible work dipping into it, an' I looks at both sides of a halfpenny 'fore I spend it. Wish you would. You'm tu generous, Will. But accounts are that difficult.
gpt
I was gwaine to say that out of all our happiness an' fortune we might let a little bubble awver for Chris--eh? She'm such a gude gal, an' you love her so dearly as what I do a'most.
human
What d'you mean?
gpt
I can see in your face you knaw well enough. That four-hunderd-odd pound. I've sometimes thought I should have given Chris a bit of the windfall when first it comed. But now--well, theer's this cruel coil failed on 'em. You knaw the hardness of waiting. 'Twould be a butivul thing to let 'em marry an' feel't was thanks to us.
human
You want to go giving them money?
gpt
Not 'give' 'zactly. Us'll call it a loan, till the time they see their way clearer.
human
Poor dears, she said at length.
gpt
I feel for 'em in my heart, same as you do; yet somehow it doan't look right.
human
Not right, Phoebe?
gpt
Not wise, then. Remember what you say the winters be up here--such dreary months with no money coming in and all gwaine out to keep life in the things.
human
Money flies so.
gpt
Then let some fly to a gude end. You knaw I'm a hard, keen man where other people be concerned, most times.
human
Damn it, Phoebe, doan't you take me like that else you'll get the rough edge of my tongue. 'Tis for you to agree with what I'm pleased to say, not contradict it. I _be_ a hard, keen man, and knaws the value of money as well as another. But Chris is my awn sister, an' the long an' the short is, I'm gwaine to give Clem Hicks a hunderd pound.
gpt
Will! It's not reasonable, it's not fair--us working so hard an'--an'--
human
They 'm to have it, anyway.