human
Please forgive me! she said,
gpt
I wasn't sure. I know it must be awful,--cruel--for you!
human
He--is all I have left! the woman breathed with a quick controlled gasp,
gpt
He would have gone sooner, only he thought he ought not to leave me till he had to, she said with another proud little quiver in her voice, as if having once spoken she must go on and say more,
human
I kept telling him I would get on all right--but he always was so careful of me--ever since his father died!
gpt
Of course!
human
I knew him, you know. I used to go to the same school with him when I was a little bit of a girl.
gpt
Why, aren't you Ruth Macdonald? _Miss_ Macdonald, I mean--excuse me! You live in the big house on the hill, don't you?
human
Yes, I'm Ruth Macdonald. Please don't call me Miss. I'm only nineteen and I still answer to my little girl name,
gpt
I didn't know John knew you, she said speculatively.
human
He never mentioned----
gpt
Of course not! said the girl anticipating,
human
I'd have liked him to know a girl like you,
gpt
Thank you! said Ruth brightly,
human
Oh, he is! said the little mother, her tears brimming over again and flowing down her dismayed cheeks,
gpt
Wasn't that fine! said Ruth with sparkling eyes,
human
I'm sure he's worth a lot more than some of the fellows who have always had every whim gratified. Now, which street? You'll have to tell me. I'm ashamed to say I don't know this part of town very well. Isn't it pretty down here? This house? What a wonderful clematis! I never saw such a wealth of bloom.
gpt
Yes, John planted that and fussed over it, said his mother with pride as she slipped unaccustomedly out of the car to the sidewalk.
human
I'm very glad to have met you and it was most kind of you to bring me home. To tell the truth --with a roguish smile that reminded Ruth of her son's grin--
gpt
I was so weak and trembling with saying good-bye and trying to keep up so John wouldn't know it, that I didn't know how I was to get home. Though I'm afraid I was a bit discourteous. I couldn't bear the thought of talking to a stranger just then. But you haven't been like a stranger--knowing him, and all----
human
Oh, thank you! said Ruth,
gpt
Well, that's a good deal. Some of us haven't time to do that. I never have a minute.
human
You don't need to, you've given your son,
gpt
Yes, I've given him, she said,
human
Of course not,