human
Father, Tom wouldn't be naughty to you ever; I know he wouldn't.
gpt
What! they mustn't say any harm o' Tom, eh? said Mr. Tulliver, looking at Maggie with a twinkling eye. Then he added gently,
human
Go, go and see after your mother.
gpt
Did you ever hear the like on't? said Mr. Tulliver as Maggie retired.
human
It's a pity but what she'd been the lad.
gpt
But your lad's not stupid, is he? said Mr. Riley.
human
I saw him, when I was here last, busy making fishing-tackle; he seemed quite up to it.
gpt
Well, he isn't stupid. He's got a notion o' things out o' door, an' a sort o' common sense, and he'll lay hold o' things by the right handle. But he's slow with his tongue, you see, and he reads but poorly, and can't abide the books, and spells all wrong, they tell me, an' you never hear him say 'cute things like the little wench. Now, what I want is to send him to a school where they'll make him a bit nimble with his tongue and his pen, and make a smart chap of him.
human
You're quite in the right of it, Tulliver, observed Mr. Riley.
gpt
Better spend an extra hundred or two on your son's education than leave it him in your will.
human
I dare say, now, you know of a school as 'ud be just the thing for Tom,
gpt
I know of a very fine chance for any one that's got the necessary money, and that's what you have, Tulliver. But if any one wanted his boy to be placed under a first-rate fellow, I know his man. He's an Oxford man, and a parson. He's willing to take one or two boys as pupils to fill up his time. The boys would be quite of the family--the finest thing in the world for them--under Stelling's eye continually.
human
But do you think they'd give the poor lad twice o' pudding?
gpt
And what money 'ud he want?
human
Stelling is moderate in his terms; he's not a grasping man, said Mr. Riley.
gpt
I've no doubt he'd take your boy at a hundred. I'll write to him about it if you like.
human
But belike he's a bachelor, observed Mrs. Tulliver,
gpt
You may set your mind at rest on that score, Mrs. Tulliver, said Mr. Riley,
human
Father, broke in Maggie, who had stolen to her father's elbow again, listening with parted lips, while she held her doll topsy-turvy, and crushed its nose against the wood of the chair--
gpt
I don't know, my wench, said the father tenderly.
human
Ask Mr. Riley; he knows.
gpt
How far is it, please sir?
human
Oh, a long, long way off, that gentleman answered.
gpt
You must borrow the seven-leagued boots to get to him.
human
That's nonsense!
gpt
Hush, Maggie, for shame of you, chattering so, said her mother.
human
Come and sit down on your little stool, and hold your tongue, do. But, added Mrs. Tulliver, who had her own alarm awakened,
gpt
About fifteen miles, that's all, said Mr. Riley.
human
You can drive there and back in a day quite comfortably. Or--Stelling is a kind, pleasant man--he'd be glad to have you stay.
gpt
But it's too far off for the linen, I doubt,