human
Jacob, said Tom to me, pulling his wherry into the _hard_, alongside of mine, in which I was sitting with one of Mr Turnbull's books in my hand;
gpt
Jacob, do you recollect that my time is up to-morrow? I shall have run off my seven years, and when the sun rises I shall be free of the river. How much more have you to serve?
human
About fifteen months, as near as I can recollect, Tom.--Boat, sir?
gpt
Yes; oars, my lad; be smart, for I am in a hurry. How's tide?
human
Down, sir, very soon; but it's now slack water. Tom, see if you can find Stapleton.
gpt
Pooh! never mind him, Jacob, I'll go with you. I say, Jones, tell old `_human natur'_' to look after my boat,
human
I thought you had come up to see _her_,
gpt
See _her_ at Jericho first, replied Tom
human
What, are you _two_ again?
gpt
Two indeed--it's all two--we are two fools. She is too fanciful; I am too fond; she behaves too ill, and I put up with too much. However, it's all _one_.
human
I thought it was all _two_ just now, Tom.
gpt
But two may be made one, Jacob, you know.
human
Yes, by the parson: but you are no parson.
gpt
Anyhow, I am something like one just now, replied Tom, who was pulling the foremost oar;
human
That's not so bad,
gpt
A waterman would make but a bad parson, sir,
human
Why so?
gpt
He's not likely to practice as he preaches.
human
Again, why so?
gpt
Because all his life he looks one way and pulls another.
human
Very good--very good, indeed.
gpt
Nay, sir, good in practice, but still not good _in deed_--there's a puzzle.
human
A puzzle, indeed, to find such a regular chain of repartee in a wherry.
gpt
Well, sir, if I'm a regular chain to-day, I shall be like an irregular watch to-morrow.
human
Why so, my lad?
gpt
Because I shall be _out of my time_.
human
Take that, my lad,
gpt
Thanky, sir; when we meet again may you have no more wit than you have now.
human
How do you mean?
gpt
Not wit enough to keep your money, sir--that's all!
human
I presume you think that I have not got much.
gpt
Which, sir; wit or money?
human
Wit, my lad.
gpt
Nay, sir, I think you have both: the first you purchased just now; and you would hardly have bought it, if you had not money to spare.
human
But I mean wit of my own.
gpt
No man has wit of his own; if he borrows it, it's not his own; if he has it in himself, it's _mother_ wit, so it's not his.
human
Good-bye, my lad,
gpt
Fare-you-well, for well you've paid your fare, replied Tom, holding out his arm to assist him out of the boat.
human
Well, Jacob, I've made more by my head than by my hands this morning. I wonder, in the long run, which gains most in the world.
gpt
Head, Tom, depend upon it; but they work best together.
human
I say, you watermen, have you a mind for a good fare?
gpt
Where to, sir?
human
Gravesend, my jokers, if you ain't afraid of salt water.
gpt
That's a long way, sir, replied Tom;
human
So you shall, my lads, and a glass of grog into the bargain.
gpt
Yes; but the bargain a'n't made yet, sir. Jacob, will you go?
human
Yes, but not under a guinea.
gpt
Not under two guineas, replied Tom, aside.
human
Are you in a great hurry, sir?
gpt
Yes, in a devil of a hurry; I shall lose my ship. What will you take me for?
human
Two guineas, sir.
gpt
Very well. Just come up to the public-house here, and put in my traps.