human
Joan, she asked,
gpt
I don't know, she whispered.
human
How does one know?--I thought about him all the time, and sometimes I didn't want him at all, and sometimes--I did.--And now I wish my father would _kill_ him!
gpt
That's not it, then. You'd know! Even at the worst, she said quietly,
human
You! she cried.
gpt
But I thought it was you who declined to marry him, even after you'd got a divorce to do it?
human
Did Ned tell you that?
gpt
So that's the idea he has allowed to get abroad? Nice of him. Ned always was a gentleman--and I suppose it does put him in a better light, too--But unfortunately the facts of the case are otherwise. I did get a divorce to marry him--not that he suggested it, oh, dear, no! That would have been too crude. It simply seemed to me the honest thing to do, and my husband agreed with me--So I took up my residence in Dakota. And when I came back, quite free and marriageable, Eduard happened to be in Brittany, painting.
human
And then?--
gpt
That's all. There wasn't any 'then.' Eduard remained in Brittany, painting. The episode was over, you see. Presently I married Rossiter. One couldn't pine away like a love-lorn housemaid!
human
Don't laugh, said Joan hoarsely.
gpt
It's too awful! Her hand gripped the other's.
human
Oh, how can you bear to _speak_ to him?
gpt
You don't suppose it lasts, you funny innocent? Besides, though he did cost me a few illusions and some suffering and a reputation (what's a reputation among friends?), I owe Ned Desmond one very good turn. Jim Rossiter's the best husband of my acquaintance.
human
So you see you're not the only silly little simpleton who learns her ropes by tripping on them. Makes you feel better, doesn't it? Of course! That's why I told you.... Look here, what's the use of wasting all this perfectly good candy? Jane's floors are above suspicion. Let's pick it up and take it downstairs and make a Roman holiday, shall we?