human
Well! that is delightful, exclaimed Julia;
gpt
I would have laughed before, if I had thought it would bring matters to a conclusion.
human
I should be very sorry, she said,
gpt
Only she took pleasure in hurting my ears,
human
Not intentionally, said Miss Morton;
gpt
Miss Cunningham is so very silly, persisted Julia, who was never willing to confess herself in the wrong;
human
I cannot agree with you at all, said Emily;
gpt
To be sure not, exclaimed Julia, pertly;
human
There again I must differ from you, replied Emily.
gpt
It makes all the difference possible. Self-conceit, and vanity, and pride may be ridiculous, but not mere deficiency of understanding; it is the appointment of God, just as much as poverty or illness may be; and I think, from something I heard you say yesterday, you would not be at all inclined to laugh at any one who had less money than yourself.
human
Oh no! certainly not, said Julia;
gpt
But it does not follow that all the world are right,
human
But a great many strict people that I know think so, said Julia.
gpt
I very often hear some friends of ours say--such a person is not quite right, but then he is so clever; and it does make up for a great many things; you must own that.
human
Indeed I cannot own it, replied Emily:
gpt
I do not see that it makes up for anything.
human
But don't you like it?
gpt
Yes, very much--just as I like to see a pretty face, or to listen to beautiful music; but I do not esteem it. I mean, she added, observing that Julia continued silent from astonishment,
human
But have you no value at all for it?
gpt
Yes, replied Emily;
human
But, said Julia,
gpt
Yes,
human
What were you going to say?
gpt
I did not like to say what was in my mind, replied Emily;
human
I wish you would go on talking, she said, after the silence had continued for several minutes;
gpt
It is not what I think, but what Miss Cunningham thinks, which is of importance, replied Miss Morton;
human
Well! I was not quite polite perhaps, only really I could not help it. Shall I beg her pardon?
gpt
No! exclaimed Emily,
human
But what shall I do?
gpt
Will you let me tell you without thinking I am interfering?
human
Oh yes, pray do. You know, at school every one speaks their mind, so I am quite accustomed to it.
gpt
Well, then! I should recommend you to begin by keeping a strict guard over yourself for the rest of the day, that you may not be guilty of the same fault again, and not to force yourself upon Miss Cunningham, but to show her quietly a few little attentions; and if she is proud and annoyed, to try and feel that it is only what you have brought upon yourself, and therefore not to be angry with her.
human
But that is not the least in my way, said Julia;
gpt
I could go just at this minute and say I am sorry, because I am in the humour; and I should be rather glad to make it up and be friends again, though she is so silly; but as for going on all day paying little attentions to a person who has not a single idea in her head, is what I never did and never can do.
human
Never will, you mean, replied Miss Morton.
gpt
We often say _can_, when we ought to say _will_.
human
Well! can or will, exclaimed Julia;
gpt
Because you think yourself cleverer, said Miss Morton;