human
Your country is noted for its beautiful women?
gpt
We have exquisite types of femininity in Tuscany,
human
Any as fine looking as--as--as--well, say the young lady we dined with to-night?
gpt
Miss Wallace?
human
Yes, Miss Wallace,
gpt
She is very beautiful,
human
Have you ever seen any one prettier?
gpt
I have no desire to see any one more beautiful,
human
You will pardon the inquisitiveness of an old man, but are not you musicians a most impressionable lot?
gpt
We are human,
human
I imagined you were like sailors and had a sweetheart in every port.
gpt
That would be a delightful prospect to one having polygamous aspirations, but for myself, one sweetheart is enough,
human
Only one! Well, here's to her! With this nectar fit for the gods and goddesses of Olympus, let us drink to her, said old Sanders, with convivial dignity, his glass raised on high.
gpt
Here's wishing health and happiness to the dreamy-eyed Tuscan beauty, whom you love and who loves you.
human
Stop! said Diotti;
gpt
and holding his glass against that of his bibulous host, continued:
human
To the dreamy-eyed women of my country, exacting of their lovers; obedient to their parents and loyal to their husbands,
gpt
Now for the rest of the toast, to the one you love and who loves you,
human
To the one I love and who loves me, God bless her!
gpt
Is she a Tuscan?
human
She is an angel!
gpt
Then she is an American!
human
She is an American,
gpt
Let me see if I can guess her name, said old Sanders.
human
It's--it's Mildred Wallace!
gpt
I sincerely pity Mildred if ever she falls in love,
human
Pray why?
gpt
Signor Diotti, jealousy is a more universal passion than love itself. Environment may develop our character, influence our tastes and even soften our features, but heredity determines the intensity of the two leading passions, love and jealousy. Mildred's mother was a beautiful woman, but consumed with an overpowering jealousy of her husband. It was because she loved him. The body-guard of jealousy--envy, malice and hatred--were not in her composition. When Mildred was a child of twelve I have seen her mother suffer the keenest anguish because Mr. Wallace fondled the child. She thought the child had robbed her of her husband's love.
human
Such a woman as Miss Wallace would command the entire love and admiration of her husband at all times,
gpt
If she should marry a man she simply likes, her chances for happiness would be normal.
human
In what manner?
gpt
Because she would be little concerned about him or his actions.
human
Then you believe, said the musician,
gpt
That would be an unselfish love,
human
Suppose they have declared their passion?
gpt
A parting before doubt and jealousy had entered her mind would let the image of her sacrificing lover live within her soul as a tender and lasting memory; he always would be her ideal,
human
Why should doubt and jealousy enter her life?
gpt
My dear sir, from what I observed to-night, she loves you. You are a dangerous man for a jealous woman to love. You are not a cloistered monk, you are a man before the public; you win the admiration of many; some women do not hesitate to show you their preference. To a woman like Mildred that would be torture; she could not and would not separate the professional artist from the lover or husband.
human
If you had known her mother as I did, continued the old man, realizing his argument was making an impression on the violinist,
gpt
I would live my life not to excite her suspicions or jealousy,
human
Foolish fellow, retorted Sanders, skeptically;
gpt
To be loved by such a one is bliss beyond the dreams of this world.
human
It's an awful night; better remain here until morning. You'll not find a cab; in fact, I will not let you go while this storm continues,