human
I came to
gpt
Restore you your box of colours and your canvas, which I carried off by mistake.
human
To say that I am very, very sorry for my rudeness to you, and to entreat you to forget my abominable words, if you can.
gpt
Don't say that. I deserved a thousand times more. You were right.
human
No, no! I can't let you blame yourself to save me from self-reproach. I know papa was ridiculous. But what made me angry was this thought that you were laughing at _him_. I couldn't bear that. I shouldn't have minded your laughing at me; but at papa!
gpt
I happened to be laughing much more at myself than your father. Where is the General?
human
He has gone with mamma. They wondered where you were, and I said you were coming back again.
gpt
How did you know?
human
I thought you would come,--that you would upbraid yourself for my bad behaviour, and return to excuse it to me. You see what perfect faith I--we--have in you.
gpt
Have you indeed perfect faith in me?
human
Perfect!
gpt
But why, _why_ do you trust me? You see that I am hasty and rude.
human
Oh no, not rude.
gpt
But I assure you that I am so; and you have seen that I laughed--that I am wanting in delicacy, and
human
How can you say that to _us_, when every day, every hour, every instant of the last month has given us proof of unimaginable kindness in you! He eagerly approaches and takes her hands, which she frankly yields him.
gpt
Your patience, your noble forbearance, which we so sorely tried, has made us all forget that you are a stranger, and--and--to me it's as if we had always known you --her head droops--
human
Oh!
gpt
Mr. Bartlett! Do look! Did you intend to trample my canvas and colours under foot?
human
Don't! He hastily picks them up, and puts the canvas on the easel and the colours on the table. With a glance at the canvas:
gpt
Ponkwasset doesn't seem to have been seriously injured by his violent usage. Shall you like to try your hand at him again to-morrow?
human
Oh, yes. But on one condition.
gpt
Yes.
human
That you have a little faith in _me_, too.
gpt
Oh, Miss Wyatt
human
I used to have a bad temper, and now that I'm getting better it seems to be getting worse. Try to believe in me enough to know that when I do or say some violent thing, I'm ashamed of it; and that when I wounded you, I really meant to hurt myself; that I-- Oh, you know, Mr. Bartlett, how much you've borne from us, and how much we owe you; and if you did anything now to make us think less of your unselfish goodness, we never could forgive you! Bartlett remains with bowed head.
gpt
I must go, now. Gaily:
human
Perhaps to-morrow, when we resume our lessons, you'll tell me what you meant to-day, when you couldn't explain yourself.
gpt
No, I can never tell you.
human
I can't believe that! At any rate, we shall talk the matter over, and I may say something to help you. You know how one thing leads to another.
gpt
But nothing you can ever say now will lead to what I wanted to say.
human
Don't be sure. If you rouse my curiosity, I shall be a powerful aid to expression. With a woman's wit to help you out with your meaning, how can you help making it clear?
gpt
Because--because it wants something more than wit in you to make it clear.
human
Well, you shall have sympathy, if sympathy is what you need. Is it something like sympathy?
gpt
Something like sympathy; but--not--not exactly sympathy.
human
How difficult you make it! I see! You want compassion.
gpt
Oh, no! I would sooner have contempt!
human
But that's the one thing you can't have. Try to think of something else you want, and let me know to-morrow.