human
Now, you look at here, said he.
gpt
Don't you hev them chaps a-pesterin' of you no more, an' ef they do, you jest streak right into my parlor an' I'll take care of ye. See?
human
I don't want anything to do with you nor your old barber-shop,
gpt
You had better run along, John,
human
I guess he's a child kinder given to speakin' at tandem,
gpt
What business had that barber telling me to go into his old barber-shop? demanded he.
human
I ain't afraid of all the boys in this one-horse town.
gpt
Of course not,
human
I did have an elephant when I lived in Hillfield, and I did ride him, and I did have circuses every Saturday,
gpt
At least-- said the child, in a modified tone. Anderson looked at him with an air of polite waiting. The boy's roses bloomed again.
human
At least-- he faltered,
gpt
A maid rang a dinner-bell frantically in the doorway of the house near which they were standing. Anderson glanced at her, then back at the boy.
human
At least-- said the boy, with a blurt of confidence which yielded nothing, but implied the recognition of a friend and understander in the man--
gpt
Yes?
human
And-- he added, but still with no tone of apology or confession,
gpt
I might have had an elephant.
human
Yes, said Anderson,
gpt
And they did not know but what I might,
human
That's so, I suppose; only elephants are not very common as setter dogs for a boy to have around these parts.
gpt
It was a setter dog, said the boy, with a burst of innocence and admiration.
human
How did you know?
gpt
Oh, I guessed.
human
You must be real smart, said the boy.
gpt
My father said he thought you were, and somehow had got stranded in a grocery store. Did you?
human
Yes, I did,