human
It's so much more fun, she asserted,
gpt
Is that what we do?
human
Yes, indeed. Or else you get out a jackknife and hack off great handfuls of them at once, and bring them back all bleeding from your ruthless attack.
gpt
I see. And you gather them delicately, so they don't mind, I suppose. Yet--I was given to understand that 'Susquehanna' died first. I've always wondered what you did to her. I'd banked on her as the huskiest of the lot.
human
Yet only next morning she was sadly drooping. I know, because I received a report of her. And I lost my wager.
gpt
You should have known better, she said demurely, her head bent over her armful of flowers,
human
You weren't so gentle with 'Susquehanna,' then, I take it, as you are with those wild things you have there.
gpt
I was not gentle with her at all. Anne lifted her head with a mischievously merry look.
human
If you must know--I kissed her--hard!
gpt
Ah! Jordan King sat back, laughing, with suddenly rising colour.
human
I thought as much. But I suppose I'm to take it that you did it solely because she was 'Susquehanna'--not because--
gpt
Certainly because she was her lovely self, cool and sweet and a glorious colour, and she reminded me--of other roses I had known. Flowers to a convalescent are only just a little less reviving than food. 'Susquehanna' cheered me on toward victory.
human
Then she died happy, I'm sure.