human
There, said he,
gpt
I understand,
human
What do you care whether the butcher or the egg-woman are paid or not, when all the boy we've got is lost?
gpt
That's so, said Anna, and she gave the roll of notes a toss away from her with a passionate gesture.
human
Arthur, where do you suppose he is?
gpt
My dear sister, I don't know, but boys have played truant before, and survived it; and I have strong hopes of our dear boy. Carroll's voice, though droll, was exceedingly soft and soothing. He put an arm again around his wife, drew her close to him, and pressed her head against his shoulder.
human
Dear, you will be ill, he said.
gpt
The boy is all right.
human
I am sure this time he is shot,
gpt
My dear Amy!
human
Now, Arthur, you can laugh, said his sister, coming down the stairs, the embroidered ruffles of her white cambric skirt fluttering around her slender ankles in pink silk stockings, and her little feet thrust into French-heeled slippers, one of which had an enormous bow and buckle, the other nothing at all.
gpt
You may laugh, said Anna Carroll, in a sweet, challenging voice,
human
Yes, he has been everything except shot,
gpt
My dearest dear, don't worry over such a thing as that!
human
But, Arthur, pleaded Mrs. Carroll,
gpt
Well, he said,
human
I am going now, and I shall find the boy and bring him home safe and sound, and-- Amy, darling, have you eaten anything?
gpt
Oh, Arthur, cried his wife, reproachfully,
human
Well, perhaps he has stayed away for mischief alone, and that is what has happened now instead of the shooting,
gpt
Arthur, if--if he has, you surely will not--
human
Arthur, you will not punish that boy if he does come home again safe and sound?
gpt
Have either of you eaten anything?
human
Of course not,
gpt
How could we, dear? said his wife.
human
I had thought I was quite hungry, and when the butcher sent the roast, after all--
gpt
Perhaps I had better wait and not pay him until he does not send anything, murmured Anna Carroll, as if to herself.
human
And when the roast did come, I was glad, but, after all, I could not touch it.
gpt
Well, you must both eat to-night to make up for it,
human
I had thought you would as soon have it cold for dinner to-night, said Mrs. Carroll, in her soft, complaining voice.
gpt
We would not have planned it for our noon lunch, but we were afraid to ask the butcher for chops, too, and as long as there were no eggs for breakfast, we felt the need of something substantial; but, of course, when that darling boy did not come, and we had reason to think he was shot, we could not--
human
Now, Amy, dearest, said he,
gpt
I am going to find Eddy and bring him home, and--you say Marie has gone to hunt for him?
human
Yes, she went in one direction, and Ina and Charlotte in others,
gpt
Well, said Carroll,
human
I will send Marie home at once, and I wish you would see that she prepares an early dinner, and then we can go for a drive afterwards.
gpt
Eddy can go, too,
human
No, Amy, said Carroll,
gpt
He will whip him,
human
Well, said she,
gpt
I know that, Amy, said Anna, quite seriously,
human
May have what?
gpt
May have inherited from Arthur,
human
Eddy has no faults worth mentioning, responded Mrs. Carroll, seeming to enlarge with a sort of fluffy fury like an angry bird;
gpt
I knew Arthur before you ever did, said Anna, apologetically.
human
Don't get excited, dear.
gpt
I am not excited, but I do wonder at your speaking after such a fashion when we don't know what may have happened to the dear boy. Of course Arthur will not punish him if he is shot or anything.
human
Of course not.
gpt
And if he is not shot, and Arthur should punish him, of course it will be all right.
human
Yes, I suppose it will, Amy,
gpt
Arthur feels so sure that nothing has happened to him that I begin to think so myself,
human
Yes, he has encouraged me, assented Anna.
gpt
I suppose we had better dress now.
human
Yes, if we are going to drive directly after dinner. I'll put on my cream foulard, it is so warm. I suppose we have, perhaps, worried a little more than was necessary.
gpt
I dare say, said Anna, trailing her white frills and laces before her sister the length of the upper hall.
human
I think I'll wear my blue embroidered linen.
gpt
You said the bill for that came yesterday?
human
No, six weeks ago; certainly six weeks ago. You know I had it made very early. Oh yes, the second or third bill did come yesterday. I have had so many, I get mixed over those bills.
gpt
Well, it is a right pretty gown, and I would wear it if I were you,