human
I ban't no croaker, as you knaws. Happy, are 'e?--happy for wance? I suppose you'll say now, as you've said plenty times a'ready, that you 'm to the tail of your troubles for gude an' all--just in your auld, silly fashion?
gpt
Not me, auld chap, never no more--so long as you 'm alive! Ha, ha, ha--that's wan for you! Theer! if 't isn't gude to laugh again!
human
I be main glad as I've got no news to make 'e do anything else, though ban't often us can be prophets of gude nowadays. But if you've grawed a streak wiser of late, then theer's hope, even for a scatterbrain like you, the Lard bein' all-powerful. Not that jokes against such as me would please Him the better.
gpt
I've thought a lot in my time, Billy; an' I haven't done thinking yet. I've comed to reckon as I caan't do very well wi'out the world, though the world would fare easy enough wi'out me.
human
That's sense so far as it goes, he admitted.
gpt
Obedience be hard to the young; to the auld it comes natural; to me allus was easy as dirt from my youth up. Obedience to betters in heaven an' airth. But you--you with your born luck--never heard tell of nothin' like it 't all. What's a fix to you? You goes in wan end an' walks out t' other, like a rabbit through a hedge. Theer you was--in such a tight pass as you might say neither God nor angels could get 'e free wi'out a Bible miracle, when, burnish it all! if the Jubilee Queen o' England doan't busy herself 'bout 'e!
human
You might thank her. 'T is all as humble folks can do most times when Queens or Squires or the A'mighty Hisself spares a thought to better us. Us can awnly say 'thank you.'
gpt
I'm forgetting all I've got to tell 'e, though I've news enough for a buke,
human
How's Jan Grimbal, fust plaace?
gpt
On his legs again an' out o' danger if the Lunnon doctor knaws anything. A hunderd guineas they say that chap have had! Your name was danced to a mad tune 'pon Grimbal's lips 'fore his senses corned back to un. Why for I caan't tell 'e. He've shook hands wi' Death for sartain while you was away.
human
An' mother, an' wife, an' Miller?
gpt
Your mother be well--a steadfast woman her be. Joy doan't lift her up, an' sorrow doan't crush her. Theer's gert wisdom in her way of life. 'T is my awn, for that matter. Then Miller--well, he 'm grawin' auld an' doan't rate me quite so high as formerly--not that I judge anybody but myself. An' your missis--theer, if I haven't kept it for the last! 'Tis news four-an-twenty hour old now an' they wrote to 'e essterday, but I lay you missed the letter awin' to me--
human
Get on!
gpt
Well, she've brought 'e a bwoy--so now you've got both sorts--bwoy an' cheel. An' all doin' well as can be, though wisht work for her, thinkin' 'pon you the while.
human
He shall go for a soldier!
gpt
Theer! Now I knaw 't is Blanchard back an' no other! Hear me, will 'e; doan't plan no such uneven way of life for un.
human
By God, he shall!
gpt
Might have knawed he wouldn't walk along wi' me arter that,
human
For the Lard's love go in quiet an' gradual, or you'll scare the life out of 'em all.
gpt
I knaw, I knaw; I ban't the man to do a rash deed!