human
I suppose you know you have made Dolly feel very bad,
gpt
Have I? Alice handed him the tea and he asked another question.
human
What, pray, do you know about it?
gpt
Nothing at all except that she is hurt, and that I am sorry.
human
She didn’t tell you what the difference was?
gpt
Except that it concerned her coming guest.
human
I offered Dolly my yacht for her week. She wanted me to go with the party. Because I declined, she became greatly incensed.
gpt
She thought, naturally, you ought to have obliged her.
human
I pleaded I could not spare the time. She has the Nelsons and enough others, anyway.
gpt
Her answer, of course, is that your time is your own.
human
But the fact is, her guest made the request. Dolly without consulting me promised I would go, and now that I will not she is angry.
gpt
I should think a week at sea would be a diversion for you.
human
To tag around a week in heavy seas with wraps after a person of distinction? And pace the deck with her on damp nights?
gpt
That is unamiable. She is a very great actress.
human
Suppose she should be seasick. I once went out with her and she professed to be ill every morning. I had to sit in her cabin--it was a stuffy yacht of De Castro’s--and hold her hand.
gpt
But you are so patient. You would not mind that.
human
Oh, no; I am not in the least patient. The Kimberlys are described as patient when they are merely persistent. If I am even amiable, amiability is something quite other than patience. Patience is almost mysterious to me. Francis is the only patient man I ever have known.
gpt
In this case you are not even amiable. We all have to do things we don’t want to do, to oblige others. And Dolly ought to be obliged.
human
Very well. If you will go, I will. What do you say?
gpt
You need not drag me in. I shall have guests of my own next week. If Dolly made a mistake about your inclination in the affair it would be only generous to help her out.
human
Very well, I will go.
gpt
Now you are amiable.
human
They can put in at Bar Point and I will join them for the last two days. I will urge McEntee, the captain, to see that they are all sick, if possible, before I come aboard. Then they will not need very much entertaining.
gpt
How malicious!
human
Not a bit. Dolly is a good sailor. Her guest cares nothing for me. It is only to have an American at her heels.
gpt
They say that no one can resist her charm. You may not escape it this time.