human
No, I won't sit down, thank you, he said, and stood, lounging a little, with an elbow on the mantelpiece.
gpt
Yes; I was afraid you would be displeased, he went on, good-humoredly;
human
Well, not seriously, she said dryly. And he felt the color rise in his face. That he was frightfully ill at ease was obvious in the elaborate carelessness with which he began to inquire about the Works. But her only answer to his meaningless questions was silence. Blair was conscious that he was breathing quickly, and that made him angry.
gpt
Why _am_ I such an ass? he asked himself; then said, with studied lightness, that he was afraid he would have to absent himself from business for still a little longer, as he was going abroad. Fortunately--here the old sarcastic politeness broke into his really serious purpose to be respectful; fortunately he was so unimportant that his absence didn't really matter.
human
You _are_ the Works, you know, Mother.
gpt
You are certainly unimportant,