human
It capped her beyond expression, and me too, to find that, instead of thundering home in a breakneck gallop and laying your assize laurels at her feet, you coolly took coach up to London. What you have done there Satan knows; nothing in this world, I believe, but sat and sulked. Your face was never lily fair, but it is olive green now. You're not as bonny as you were, man.
gpt
And who is to have this prize you talk so much about?
human
Only a baronet; that is all. I have not a doubt in my own mind you've lost her. She will be Lady Nunnely before Christmas.
gpt
Hem! Quite probable.
human
But she need not to have been. Fool of a lad! I swear you might have had her.
gpt
By what token, Mr. Yorke?
human
By every token--by the light of her eyes, the red of her cheeks. Red they grew when your name was mentioned, though of custom they are pale.
gpt
My chance is quite over, I suppose?
human
It ought to be. But try; it is worth trying. I call this Sir Philip milk and water. And then he writes verses, they say--tags rhymes. _You_ are above that, Bob, at all events.
gpt
Would you advise me to propose, late as it is, Mr. Yorke--at the eleventh hour?
human
You can but make the experiment, Robert. If she has a fancy for you--and, on my conscience, I believe she has or had--she will forgive much. But, my lad, you are laughing. Is it at me? You had better grin at your own perverseness. I see, however, you laugh at the wrong side of your mouth. You have as sour a look at this moment as one need wish to see.
gpt
I have so quarrelled with myself, Yorke. I have so kicked against the pricks, and struggled in a strait waistcoat, and dislocated my wrists with wrenching them in handcuffs, and battered my hard head by driving it against a harder wall.
human
Ha! I'm glad to hear that. Sharp exercise yon! I hope it has done you good--ta'en some of the self-conceit out of you?
gpt
Self-conceit? What is it? Self-respect, self-tolerance even, what are they? Do you sell the articles? Do you know anybody who does? Give an indication. They would find in me a liberal chapman. I would part with my last guinea this minute to buy.
human
Is it so with you, Robert? I find that spicy. I like a man to speak his mind. What has gone wrong?
gpt
The machinery of all my nature; the whole enginery of this human mill; the boiler, which I take to be the heart, is fit to burst.
human
That suld be putten i' print; it's striking. It's almost blank verse. Ye'll be jingling into poetry just e'now. If the afflatus comes, give way, Robert. Never heed me; I'll bear it this whet [time].
gpt
Hideous, abhorrent, base blunder! You may commit in a moment what you will rue for years--what life cannot cancel.
human
Lad, go on. I call it pie, nuts, sugar-candy. I like the taste uncommonly. Go on. It will do you good to talk. The moor is before us now, and there is no life for many a mile round.
gpt
I _will_ talk. I am not ashamed to tell. There is a sort of wild cat in my breast, and I choose that you shall hear how it can yell.
human
To me it is music. What grand voices you and Louis have! When Louis sings--tones off like a soft, deep bell--I've felt myself tremble again. The night is still. It listens. It is just leaning down to you, like a black priest to a blacker penitent. Confess, lad. Smooth naught down. Be candid as a convicted, justified, sanctified Methody at an experience meeting. Make yourself as wicked as Beelzebub. It will ease your mind.
gpt
As mean as Mammon, you would say. Yorke, if I got off horseback and laid myself down across the road, would you have the goodness to gallop over me, backwards and forwards, about twenty times?
human
Wi' all the pleasure in life, if there were no such thing as a coroner's inquest.