human
I suppose quietness is good for one, if only because it isn't very nice, but it gets a trifle depressing now and then, she said.
gpt
Why didn't you ask Mr. Brooke to come across?
human
You may have noticed that he never comes when my brother-in-law is not here, and then he brings drawings or estimates of some kind with him.
gpt
Grant has not been away for almost two weeks now, and it is quite that time since we have seen Mr. Brooke, she said.
human
Didn't we ask him to come when you had Minnie here?
gpt
You did, said Barbara, with a faint flush, which the shadows hid.
human
He asked me to excuse him.
gpt
Because Grant was away?
human
No, said Barbara, drily.
gpt
That, at least, was not the reason he gave me. He said he was--too tired.
human
It really must have been exasperating. He should have thought of a better excuse, she said.
gpt
You have only to hold up a finger at Vancouver, and they all flock round, eager to do a good deal more than you wish them to, while this flume-builder doesn't seem to understand what is implied by a royal invitation. No doubt you will find a way of making him realize his contumacy.
human
I am almost afraid I shall not have the opportunity.
gpt
And you can't very well attempt to make one, especially as I remember now that Grant told me he was very hard at work at the cañon. It would be even worse to be told he was too busy, since that implies that one has something better to do.