human
I'm very sorry to see you here, Perks.
gpt
Who are you?
human
Do you not know me?
gpt
No! I only know you b'longs to the gentry tribe that are always down on poor chaps like us.
human
You are mistaken there, Perks; I am Benny Bates.
gpt
You! he said in astonishment, eyeing him from head to foot.
human
Then you must 'ave got mighty 'igh in the perfeshun. I could never dress like that.
gpt
I am not in the profession, as you call it,
human
Not in it?
gpt
No.
human
Do you mean to say you've kep' honest all these years?
gpt
Yes, I have.
human
An' kep' in Liverpool?
gpt
No.
human
Jist so; you'd a-been bound to take up the perfeshun if you 'ad kep' here.
gpt
I don't think so.
human
I'm sure on it. Look 'ere: do you 'member that chat we 'ad that night I skeered yer so? Oh, lor! And Perks laughed till the tears ran down his face.
gpt
Well, Ben, I tried bein' honest arter I got out o' quad that time. I did for sure, jist by way of speriment; but lor! 't were no use,--I was nearly starved, an' I 'ad to take up the bizness agin or else die.
human
But why did not you do as I did?
gpt
Never thought on it, and shouldn't a-'ad pluck enough to hacted it out if I 'ad.