human
No, no. The old man was stimulated into immediate recollection by the disappointment in her eyes.
gpt
No, no, my dear, I have not forgotten. Your pupil is coming. Mr. Arbuthnot is coming. But, Iris, child, don't let that worry you. I will see him for you, if you like.
human
No; I must see him myself. You see, dear, there is the awful deception. Oh, how shall I tell him?
gpt
No deception at all, he said stoutly.
human
You advertised in your own initials. He never asked if the initials belonged to a man or to a woman. The other pupils do not know. Why should this one? What does it matter to him if you have done the work for which he engaged your services?
gpt
But, oh, he is so different! And the others, you know, keep to the subject.
human
So should he, then. Why didn't he?
gpt
But he hasn't. And I have been answering him, and he must think that I was drawing him on to tell me more about himself; and now--oh, what will he think? I drew him on and on--yet I didn't mean to--till at last he writes to say that he regards me as the best friend and the wisest adviser he has ever had. What will he think and say? Grandfather, it is dreadful!
human
What did you tell him for, Iris, my dear? Why couldn't you let things go on? And by telling him you will lose your pupil.
gpt
Yes, of course; and, worse still, I shall lose his letters. We live so quietly here that his letters have come to me like news of another world. How many different worlds are there all round one in London? It has been pleasant to read of that one in which ladies go about beautifully dressed always, and where the people have nothing to do but to amuse themselves. He has told me about this world in which he lives, and about his own life, so that I know everything he does, and where he goes; and --here she sighed heavily--
human
No false pretenses at all, my dear. Don't think it.
gpt
I sent back his last check, she said, trying to find a little consolation for herself.
human
But yet--
gpt
Well, Iris, said her grandfather,
human
For the last three months --the girl blushed as if she was confessing her sins--
gpt
And very good advice, too, said her grandfather benevolently.
human
Who is so wise as my Iris?
gpt
I have answered all his letters, and never once told him that I am only a girl.
human
I am glad you did not tell him, Iris, said her grandfather; but he did not say why he was glad.
gpt
And why can't he go on writing his letters without making any fuss?
human
Because he says he must make the acquaintance of the man--the man, he says--with whom he has been in correspondence so long. This is what he says.
gpt
Well, my dear, I do not want to know what he says. He wishes to make your acquaintance. Very good, then. You are going to see him, and to tell him who you are. That is enough. But as for deceiving --he paused, trying to understand this extreme scrupulosity of conscience--
human
I think he ought to have it all back, said Iris;