human
You have so many secrets with yourself, he complained,
gpt
True, Billy, said Miss Tennant.
human
But if I put up with your secrets, you should put up with mine.
gpt
I have none, said he,
human
But is it nothing, she said,
gpt
At least, Dolly, said he, more gently,
human
My reason, said she,
gpt
You speak with such assurance, said he, smiling,
human
Not to-morrow, Billy--now.
gpt
Tighter if you like, she said.
human
I don't mind. My reason, Billy, is a young man. Don't let your arm slacken that way. I don't see any one or anything beyond you in any direction in this world. You know that. There is nothing in the expression 'a young man' to turn you suddenly cold toward me. Don't be a goose.... Not so tight. They laughed happily.
gpt
I will even tell you his name, she resumed--
human
David Larkin; and I was a little gone on him, and he was over ears with me. You weren't in Aiken the year he was. Well, he misbehaved something dreadful, Billy; betted himself into a deep, deep hole, and tried to float himself out. I took him in hand, loaned him money, and took his solemn word that he would not even make love until he had paid me back. There was no real understanding between us, only----
gpt
Only?
human
Only I think he couldn't have changed suddenly from a little fool into a man if _he_ hadn't felt that there was an understanding. And his letters, one every week, confirm that; though he's very careful, because of his promise, not to make love in them.... You see, he's been working his head off--there's no way out of it, Billy--for me.... If you hadn't crossed my humble path I think I should have possessed enough sentiment for David to have been--the reward.
gpt
But there _was_ no understanding.
human
No. Not in so many words. But at the last talk we had together he was humble and pathetic and rather manly, and I did a very foolish thing.
gpt
What?
human
Oh, she said with a blush,
gpt
I sat still.
human
Let me blot it out,
gpt
But I can only remember up to seven, said she,
human
But why, he said,
gpt
I was afraid, don't you see, said she,
human
Damn!
gpt
Damn!
human
If he would have gone to pieces before this, said McAllen,
gpt
Why not? said she dismally.
human
But if he does, Billy, I can only be dreadfully sorry. I'm certainly not going to wreck our happiness just to keep him on the war-path.
gpt
But you'll not be weak, Dolly?
human
How!--weak?
gpt
He'll be very sad and miserable--you won't be carried away? You won't, upon the impulse of the moment, feel that it is your duty to go on saving him?... If that should happen, Dolly, _I_ should go to pieces.
human
Must I tell him, she said,
gpt
I don't believe, said he tenderly,
human
Oh, she cried,
gpt
I _do_ love you when you say things like that to me.... Let's not talk about horrid things any more, and mistakes, and bugbears.... If we're going to show up at the golf club tea.... It's Mrs. Carrol's to-day and we promised her to come.
human
Oh, said McAllen,
gpt
In May,
human
Billy, she said presently,
gpt
No, dear, said he,
human
No.
gpt
Are you afraid?
human
No.
gpt
Do you love me?
human
Yes.
gpt
How much?
human
So much, and she made the gesture that a baby makes when you ask,
gpt
How big's the baby?
human
What's your name?
gpt
Dolly.
human
Whose girl are you?
gpt
I'm Billy McAllen's girl.
human
All of you?
gpt
All of me, Billy--all that is straight in me, all that is crooked, all that is white, all that is black....
human
How about this hand? Is that mine?
gpt
Yours.
human
This cheek?
gpt
Yours.
human
And this?
gpt
Yours.
human
These eyes?
gpt
Both yours.
human
This mouth, Dolly?
gpt
Mumm.