human
There's no especial use in thrashing over the past. The present is none too good; but my question is simply in relation to the future.
gpt
And the question is?
human
Whether we ought to tell Miss Dane,
gpt
It will kill her.
human
Such wounds are more likely to mangle than to kill.
gpt
Poor Beatrix!
human
She does love him, then? I didn't see how she could help it.
gpt
She loves him better than she loves her life; but she loves right better than either.
human
And what is right?
gpt
I am not sure, she confessed weakly.
human
I can't seem to analyze it at all. What do you think?
gpt
That she ought to be told.
human
What good will it do?
gpt
At least, it will put her on her guard.
human
Against what? From your own showing, it is like fighting an unseen enemy. One never knows when or where it will come. She will only be put under a terrible nervous strain, faced by a fear that will haunt her, day and night. Besides, she might break the engagement. Have you thought of that?
gpt
It was of that I was thinking. She ought to have the facts, and be allowed to face the alternatives before it is too late. Miss Gannion, he turned upon her sharply;
human
Then you think--
gpt
That the trouble is likely to increase.
human
And, if she breaks her engagement to him?
gpt
That it will increase all the faster. She has a strong hold on him.
human
And you would run the risk of loosing this hold, when you know the danger to your friend?
gpt
Yes, when I see the danger to Miss Dane.
human
It is terrible, Mr. Thayer. I can see no way out of the trouble; it stands on either side of the path. But do you think she could hold him, if she were to try?
gpt
It is an open question. Lorimer is weak; but I am not sure how strong she is, nor how patient. If she could steady him and forgive him ninety-nine times, it is possible that, on the hundredth, she would have nothing to forgive. But that is asking too much of a woman, that she should sacrifice her pride and her hope to her loyalty and her love.
human
I think Beatrix would do it.
gpt
Perhaps. At least, though, she ought to have the right to choose for herself.
human
I am not sure. You make the alternatives certain ruin and possible salvation. I should cling to the chance.
gpt
And take the responsibility of silence?
human
It is a responsibility; but I should assume it for the present. What we should say to her could never be unsaid. It might do good; it might do terrible harm. It is possible that the truth may come to her in some other way. I should certainly prefer that it might.
gpt
Then that is your final advice?
human
Mr. Thayer, I am growing older than I used to be, and things don't look quite so plain to me as they did once. Motives mix themselves more, and I am not so ready to put my finger on my neighbor's nerve. If I were in your place, I--rather think I should say my prayers, and then wait.
gpt
I believe I should hate to have Mr. Thayer fall in love with me,
human
I wouldn't worry about it yet, Bobby said unkindly.
gpt
He yawned twice, last night, while he was talking to you.
human
Yes, we were discussing you.
gpt
Why didn't you call me over to give you some points? It is the only subject upon which I can speak with authority. But just think what a lover Thayer would make, troubadouring around under windows!
human
There are nineteen families in our hotel, Bobby, and thirteen of them have marriageable daughters. Imagine the creaking of casements, when Mr. Thayer warbled, 'Open the window to me, Love!' Troubadours will do for the country; in town, one can heed only the impersonal strains of the hurdy-gurdy. But really--
gpt
Yes?
human
If Mr. Thayer should fall in love and get engaged, what could the girl call him? His name doesn't lend itself easily to endearments.
gpt
His mother ought to have thought of that, when she named him.
human
It is a case of visiting the father's sins upon the child of the sixth generation. He is only Volume Seven in the series of Cotton Mathers.
gpt
That is a respectable custom; but a mighty stupid one. A fellow oughtn't to be labelled like one of a class. Might as well catalogue children, and done with it, Alpha, Beta, Gamma, and so on through the list of Thayers. Then, when he came to years of discretion, he could pick for himself. Do you suppose I would have been Bobby, if I had been consulted?
human
What then?
gpt
Demosthenes Alphonso, of course. That's something worth while.
human
Demosthenes Alphonso Dane. D. A. D. Sally commented irrepressibly. Then she swept across the room and, parting the curtains, peeped out between them.
gpt
Beatrix, the Philistines be upon you! Here comes Mrs. Lloyd Avalons. Oh, why was I the first to come? As a rule, I believe in the rotation of callers as implicitly as I do in the rotation of crops. Bobby, you came next. How long do you mean to stay?
human
Till the almonds are gone, or till Beatrix turns me out,
gpt
All right. Give me five minutes' warning. You can twirl your thumbs, when it is time for me to start; but I am bound to see some of the fun.
human
Now, children, you must be good, Beatrix implored them hurriedly.
gpt
Bobby, do try to talk about something she can understand.
human
If you want to condemn me to the conversational limits of a mummy, say so in plain Saxon, he retorted.
gpt
How can I talk about something that doesn't exist?
human
Bobby!