human
Vin, who is that old man?
gpt
Well, you saw, aunt,
human
Ob, yes, I saw. I saw. But I am none the wiser. I could not make him out at all. Sometimes I thought he was a self-conceited old donkey, who was simply gabbling at random; and again he seemed really to believe what he was saying, about his connection with those Beatons and de Bethunes and the Scotch kings. But there’s something behind it all, Vin; I tell you there is; and I can’t make it out. There’s something mysterious about him—
gpt
There’s nothing mysterious at all!
human
But who is he, then? she persisted.
gpt
What is he? Where is his family? Where are his relatives?
human
I don’t think he has any, if it comes to that, except his granddaughter,
gpt
What does he do, then? How does he exist?
human
I am not in the habit of making inquiries about the income of everyone I meet; but I understand they have some small sum of money between them—not much: and then he has published books; and he writes for the _Edinburgh Weekly Chronicle_. Is that enough?
gpt
Where does he live?
human
In Mayfair.
gpt
I don’t believe a word of it! she said, and she even ventured to laugh in a half-embarrassed way.
human
I believe he dwells in a cave—he is a troglodyte—he comes out at dusk—and wanders about with a lantern and a pickaxe. Really, when I looked at his shaggy eyebrows, and his piercing eyes, and his venerable beard, I thought he must be some Druid come to life again—or perhaps one of those mythical island-doctors surviving from the fourteenth century—
gpt
At all events, aunt, Vincent said, with an ominous distinctness of tone,
human
My dear boy, I am not jibing and jeering! she protested.
gpt
I tell you I am puzzled. There’s something about that old man I can’t make out.
human
How could you expect to understand anybody—in half-an-hour’s talk at Henley Regatta! he said, indignantly.
gpt
I gave you the opportunity of getting to know them both, if only you had come along this evening, and spent some time with them. I am not aware that either of them wants to conceal anything. They are not ashamed of their poverty. Perhaps the old man talks too much: you, at least, pretended to find what he said interesting. And as for the girl, no doubt she was silent: she isn’t used to be stared at and examined by critical and unsympathetic eyes.
human
Vin Harris, she said, solemnly,
gpt
What do you mean by compromised?