human
Then you have only been friends for a very short time,
gpt
Only for a few weeks, papa,
human
And has she never mentioned to you since the date of your friendship her former acquaintance with your brother Charlie?
gpt
No, she has not, but I am aware of it notwithstanding,
human
Well, it seems they became acquainted in London at the house of my friend Mrs. Cameron--Mr. Cameron's sister it turns out, although I was not aware of the circumstance until to-day.
gpt
You look rather bewildered, and now I come to think of it, I dare say it is rather a bewildering thing to be treated like an old woman of fifty. I need scarcely have told you of this so soon--especially as you will hear of it soon enough from lips fitter to speak of it than mine, but one always feels the need of a confidante, however old he may be and young she may be.
human
And I shall be prouder of nothing than of being yours,
gpt
Not even of the Presidentship of the Hollowmell Mission?
human
O, Mabel is that,
gpt
Well, the position of arbitrator between discontented miners and their employers,
human
Not even of that, she declared, brightening a little.
gpt
Besides, all the girls have a share in that--but to our confidences again. What of Charlie and Mona?
human
I suppose you couldn't guess?
gpt
I am sure I couldn't, she asserted. Then added laughingly,
human
she continued, growing suddenly serious again;
gpt
Well, that is just what has happened to them--though I rather think it happened before the creation of your ingenious theory. It appears they had some misunderstanding, or quarrel or something of that nature, before Miss Cameron left London, and they had never met again till he saw her along with you decorating the hall down there.
human
And they've made it up!
gpt
Yes, it is settled--the girl's only nineteen, and in my opinion too young. But her father doesn't seem to think so.
human
O, that's what he was here for then, remarked Minnie,
gpt
I met him as I was going up to Mabel's.
human
Yes, replied her father, smiling.
gpt
He seems to have fully made up his mind on one point.
human
What point?
gpt
That there is nothing and nobody worth considering in comparison with his daughter, and in that conviction his wife and he seem to be completely at one.
human
I know somebody who is pretty nearly as decided in his opinions on a similar subject,
gpt
Come, now, not quite,
human
Well, he's a great deal older than Mr. Cameron, and consequently ought to have a great deal more sense.
gpt
And his daughter snubs him too much--I wonder if Miss Mona has as sharp a tongue?
human
I would advise you not to rouse it,