human
I see you are packing.
gpt
Yes, I've had a letter from papa this morning.
human
A letter from your father?
gpt
Just now--I should think I ought to have had it yesterday; I don't know why I only had it to-day. He wants me to come home; of course he feels I'm frightfully in the way; and then it seems Polly has the scarlet fever, and Jennie looks as if she were sickening for it, and there are the other children, and papa has no one to help him--he can't afford a nurse; so you see I must go; the poor man writes as if he were half distracted.
human
Of course you must go; and, perhaps, in a way it's as well you must, though I'm so sorry to hear about Polly and Jennie; but I'm afraid that in any case I should have had to ask you to go.
gpt
Nora! Am I so much in the way as that?
human
It is not only you who are in the way; we both of us are, both you and me. Mr. Guldenheim and his friends have come, and, in consequence, I also am leaving Cloverlea.
gpt
Nora! What do you mean?
human
You knew that they were going to sell everything to pay what it appears were my father's debts; well, it's come a little sooner than I expected, that's all.
gpt
But where will you go? What will you do?
human
Something; don't fear. 'God's in His heaven, all's well with the world.' I don't doubt there's a place in it somewhere for me.
gpt
Oh, Nora, if I could only take you home with me! But it's such a poor place, and so small; and now it's like a hospital, with all the children ill of that dreadful fever, and papa writing that he's nearly penniless; what do you think yourself?
human
I think it's out of the question. With that poor father of yours already nearly borne down beneath his troubles, do you think I'd add to them? What I'm wondering is if you've enough money to take you home.
gpt
Papa hasn't sent me any--I'm afraid he's none to send; but I've been reckoning--I've just enough, with a squeeze; but then I'm used to squeezing. Nora, I do hope you've plenty of money.
human
I've enough to go on with. Can I help you with your packing?
gpt
The idea! As if I'd let you, you poor dear!
human
Then, Elaine, if you won't mind very much----
gpt
I shan't mind anything, my darling. What is it?
human
It--it's only, if you won't think me very unkind, that I'd--I'd like to catch a train which starts almost at once.