human
That's the result of the first lesson! What do you think of the effect on your appearance?
gpt
I beg your pardon! I'm quite ashamed. What have I been doing?
human
Implicit obedience, remember! I like you better as you are. It's such pretty hair that it's a sin to hide it away in that tight little knot. Why shouldn't you look nice if you can?
gpt
It does not matter how we look, so long as our characters are beautiful!
human
Then why was everything on the earth made so beautiful if we were not intended to be beautiful too? How would you like it if everything was just as useful, but looked ugly instead of pretty? When you have the choice of being one or the other it's very ungrateful to abuse your talent!
gpt
Beauty a talent! I have always looked upon it as a snare! How many a woman's life has been spoiled by a lovely face!
human
That's the abuse of beauty, not the use! I said, and felt quite proud of myself, for it sounded so grand.
gpt
Of course, if you were silly and conceited, it would spoil everything; but if you were nice, you would have far more influence with people. I used to notice that with the pretty girls at school, and, of course, there's mother--everyone adores her, and feels repaid for any amount of trouble if she will just smile and look pleased.
human
Ah, your mother! But there are not many like her. You spoke of having a choice, but in my own case, for instance, how could I--what could I do?
gpt
You could look fifty thousand times nicer if you took the trouble. I thought so the first time I saw you, and now I know it. Look in the glass again; would you know yourself for the same girl?
human
It's the enjoyment lesson, and the red cheeks--but oh, I couldn't--I really couldn't wear my hair like that! It looks so terribly as if I--I _wanted_ to look nice!
gpt
Well, so you do, don't you? I do, frightfully! I'd like to be perfectly lovely, and so charming that everyone adored me, and longed to be with me.
human
Ah, that's different, she said softly, and her eyes went shiny and she stared straight ahead at nothing, in the way people do who are thinking nice thoughts of their own which they don't mean you to know.
gpt
To be loved is beautiful, but that is different from admiration. We love people for their gifts of mind and heart, not for their appearance. She meandered on for quite a long time, but I really forget all she said, for I was getting tired of moralising, and wondering what excuse I could make to leave her and fly off home across the fields. Then suddenly came the sound of footsteps at the other side of the stile, and who should come jumping over just before our very faces but Will Dudley himself on his way home to lunch. He stared for a moment, hardly recognising the two hat-less, dishevelled mortals squatted on the grass, and then came forward to shake hands. The funny thing was that he came to me first, and said,
human
How do you do?