human
Well! What are we to do about it?
gpt
Do? Do what has come to us to do as quickly as we can. I am going to see that mother's clothes are packed and father's, too. It does seem strange to be looking after his things. Oh, girls, just think how we have always let him do it himself! I can't remember even having darned a sock for him in all my life, and Douglas gave a little sob.
human
This is no time for bawling, though, I am going to let Dr. Wright see that I am not just a doll baby.
gpt
Dr. Wright, indeed! sniffed Helen.
human
Hateful, rude thing!
gpt
Why, Helen, I don't see why you need have it in for him. I think he was just splendid! But I can't wait to tell you what I think about him; I must get busy.
human
As for saying we can't see Father before he goes, it is nothing but his arbitrariness that dictates such nonsense, stormed Helen to the two younger girls.
gpt
He is just constituting himself boss of the whole Carter family. I intend to see Father and let him know how much I love him. I'd like to know how it would help any to have poor dear Daddy go off without once seeing his girls. Hasn't he always been seeing us and haven't we always taken all our troubles to him? How would we like it if he'd let us go on a trip and not come near to wish us _bon voyage_? You silly youngsters can be hoodwinked by this bumptious young doctor if you like, but I just bet you he can't control me! I've a great mind to go up to Father's room right this minute.
human
If you go, I'm going, too,
gpt
Neither one of you is going, said Nan quietly.
human
Helen, you are acting this way just because you are ashamed of yourself. You ought to be ashamed. I know I am so mortified I can hardly hold up my head. We have been actually criminal in our selfishness. I don't intend ever as long as I live to get a new dress or a new hat or a new anything, and when I do, I'm going to shop on the wrong side of Broad and get the very cheapest and plainest I can find.
gpt
Nonsense! What does this ugly young man know of our affairs and what money Daddy has in the bank? I don't see that he is called on to tell us when we shall and shan't make bills. He is pretending that our own Father is crazy or something. Won't answer for the consequences! I reckon he won't. Why should he be right in his diagnosis any more than Dr. Davis or Dr. Drew or Dr. Slaughter or any of the rest of them? Nervous prostration! Why, that is a woman's disease. I bet Daddy will be good and mad when he finds out what this young idiot is giving him. How we will tease him!
human
But Dr. Wright is not an idiot and is not ugly and is doing the very best he can do. Do you think he liked giving it to us so? Of course he didn't. I could see he just hated it. He would have let us alone except he sees we haven't a ray of sense among us, except maybe Douglas. She showed almost human intelligence.
gpt
Speak for yourself, Miss Nan. Maybe you haven't any sense, but, thank you, I've got just as much as Douglas or that nasty old Dr. Wright or anybody else, in fact.
human
Well, take in your sign then! You certainly are behaving like a nut now.
gpt
And you? You think it shows sense to say that man is not ugly? Why, I could have done a better job on a face with a hatchet. He's got a mug like Stony Man, that big mountain up at Luray that looks like a man.
human
That's just what I thought, said Nan,
gpt
Well, Nan, if you can get some poetry out of this extremely commonplace young man you are a wonder. I am going down to see about my new hat, so I'll bid you good-by.
human
If you are getting another new hat, I intend to have one, too!
gpt
Helen, said Douglas, coming back into the library.
human
Of course you are going to countermand the order for the hat that, after all, you do not really need.
gpt
Countermand it! Why, please?
human
You heard what Dr. Wright said, surely. You must have taken in the seriousness of this business.
gpt
Seriousness much! I heard a very bumptious young doctor holding forth on what is no doubt his first case, laying down the law to us as though he were kin to us about what we shall eat and wear!
human
Helen, you astonish me! I thought you thought that you loved Father more than any of us.
gpt
So I do! None of you could love him as much as I do. I love him so much that I do not intend to stand for this nonsense about his going off for months on a dirty old boat without ever even being allowed to hug his girls. I bet he won't let this creature boss him any more than I will. Daddy said I could have another hat just so I get a blue one. He doesn't think the one I got is becoming, either,
human
Douglas, what do you think is the matter with her? I have never seen Helen act like this before,
gpt
I think she is trying to shut her eyes to Father's condition. Helen never could stand anything being the matter with Father. You know she always did hate and despise doctors, too. Has ever since she was a little girl when they took out her tonsils. She seemed to think it was their fault. She will come to herself soon,