human
I say: don't, Dave. What an old nut-cracker you are! You laugh like the old watchman's rattle in the garret. Be quiet, Tom!
gpt
But Mr Bootherboomp!
human
It's butterbump, Mr Marston. It's what they call those tall brown birds something like herons. What do you call them in London?
gpt
Oh, bitterns!
human
Yes, that's it. Come on!
gpt
Nay, said Dave;
human
I don't think you gentlemen would care for such poor sport. On'y a few fish'.
gpt
You never mind about that! Jump in, Mr Marston. Who's going to pole?
human
Nay, I'll pole, said Dave.
gpt
If yow mean to go we may as well get theer i' good time; but I don't think it's worth the trouble.
human
Get out! It's rare good fun, Mr Marston; sometimes we get lots of fish.
gpt
I'm all expectation, said Marston as Dave smiled the tight smile, which made his mouth look like a healed-up cut; and, taking the pole, began to send the punt over the clear dark water.
human
Shall we find any of those curious fish my men caught in the river the other day?
gpt
What curious fish were they?
human
Well, to me they seemed as if so many young eels had grown ashamed of being so long and thin, and they had been feeding themselves up and squeezing themselves short, so as to look as like tench as possible.
gpt
Oh, I know what you mean! cried Tom.
human
Eel-pouts! they're just about half-way between eels and tench.
gpt
Nay, yow wean't catch them here, said Dave oracularly.
human
They lives in muddy watter in rivers. Our watter here's clean and clear.