human
Pretty thirsty work, isn’t it? he said to the man.
gpt
I don’t wonder you’re not keen to be kept so long at it.
human
said the stoker.
gpt
The truth o’t is I was going to take my girl to the cinema to-night. It begins at seven, and she’ll be in a taking, ’cos they’re showing some war pictures, and I’m in one of ’em, and she’s mad on seeing me, though I tell her I ain’t doing nothing, only looking down my nose at a blooming Hun prisoner.
human
Naturally she wants to see you, and squeeze your hand, and—you know. I should myself. Well, I’ll tell you what. I’ll come about 6.45 and release you.
gpt
I mean it, no kid, Eves went on.
human
I intended coming to the meeting, but there’ll be nothing very interesting until half time, and the stoking will be finished by then.
gpt
But you’ll mess your clothes, sir, not to speak of your hands.
human
Oh, no! I’ll see to that. Besides, you know, we didn’t fret ourselves about dirt in the trenches. That’s all right, then, and look here—get your young woman a box of chocolates, a pound box—all one price, four shillings. She’ll like your picture all the more.
gpt
Bob come home, Mrs. Pouncey?
human
Not yet, sir, and I do hope he won’t be late, for I’ve got as tender a loin of young pig as ever I’ve roasted.
gpt
Capital! I’m ravenous, I always am. It’s a disease, Mrs. Pouncey. Don’t I show it in my face?
human
Bless your heart, sir, your face does me good: it do look so happy!
gpt
Happy thoughts, old dear. I’ve had a particularly happy thought all the morning, and it shines out on my ingenuous countenance. Some folks never show anything, you know. My friend Templeton, now—ah! here he is! Roast pork, Bob—hurry up!
human
That is not the right spirit, I am sure of it, he said.
gpt
You are going to exercise for the first time the priceless privilege, or right, or duty, of the franchise: a most solemn responsibility, Mrs. Pouncey. Yet you have made up your mind to vote for ’the gentleman’ without considering what views he professes, and without hearing the other side, which may be one of Nature’s gentlemen.
human
I like ’em best bred, same as pig,
gpt
I don’t dispute your taste, returned Eves,
human
Oh! how you do talk, Mr. Eves! said Mrs. Pouncey.
gpt
I’ll go, then, to please you, and I hope as I shan’t be sorry for it.
human
I don’t think you will; in fact I think you will have quite a pleasant entertainment. Mr. Noakes has insisted on the hall being warm and cosy-like, and the chairs are quite good. I’ll find you a good place at the back of the hall.
gpt
Not too far back, then, for my hearing bain’t what it was.
human
But your eyes are good—wonderfully good for a lady of forty or so. You shall sit where you can hear—and see—everything.