human
I did not know you could write, Elizabeth.
gpt
No more I can, was the answer, in the most doleful of voices.
human
It bean't no good. I've forgotten all about it. T' letters wonna join.
gpt
Let me look at them. And Hilary tried to contemplate gravely the scrawled and blotted page, which looked very much as if a large spider had walked into the ink bottle, and then walked out again on a tour of investigation.
human
What did you want to write?
gpt
It was the woman, Mrs. Cliffe, t' little lad's mother, you know; she wanted somebody to write to her husband as is at work at Birmingham, and I said I would. I'd learned at the National, but I've forgotten it all. I'm just as Miss Selina says--I'm good for nowt.
human
Come, come, never fret; for there was a sort of choke in the girl's voice.
gpt
There's many a good person who never learned to write. But I don't see why you should not learn. Shall I teach you?
human
Thank you, Miss Hilary.
gpt
Very well. I have brought you an old gown of mine, and was going to show you how to make it up for yourself, but I'll look over your writing instead. Sit down and let me see what you can do.