human
I want you to take that silver cup back, Tom, she said presently, in her usual tone.
gpt
Go back and finish your coffee.
human
How in the world am I going to take it back? asked Tom, most businesslike and calm.
gpt
Do you really know just where it came from? And then it was several years ago.
human
Your grandfather knew; they were Virginia people, of course, and happened to be old friends; one of the younger men was his own classmate. He knew the crest and motto at once, but there were two or three branches of the family, none of them, so far as he knew, living anywhere near where your father was in camp. Poor Tom said that there was a beautiful old house sacked and burnt, and everything scattered that was saved. He happened to hear a soldier from another regiment talking about it, and saw him tossing this cup about, and bought it from him with all the money he happened to have in his pockets.
gpt
Then he didn't really steal it himself!
human
No, no, Tom! said Mrs. Burton impatiently.
gpt
Only you see that it really is a stolen thing, and I have had it all this time under my roof. For a long time it was packed away with your father's war relics, those things that I couldn't bear to see. And then I would think of it only at night after I had once seen it, and forget to ask any one else while you were away, or wait for you to come. Oh, I have no excuse. I have been very careless, but here it has been all the time. I wish you would find out about the people; there must be some one belonging to them--some friend, perhaps, to whom we could give it. This is one of the things that I wish to have done, and to forget. Just take it back, or write some letters first: you will know what to do. I should like to have the people understand.
human
I'll see about it at once, said Tom, with great zest.
gpt
I believe you couldn't have spoken at a better time. I have been thinking of going down to Virginia this very week. I hear that they are in a hurry with fitting out that new scientific expedition in Washington that I declined to join, and they want me to come on and talk over things before they are off. One of the men is a Virginian, an awfully good fellow; and then there's Clendennin, my old chum, who's in Washington, too, just now; they'll give me my directions; they know all Virginia between them. I'll take the cup along, and run down from Washington for a few days, and perhaps get some shooting.
human
How pretty this old chasing is round the edge, and the set of the little handles! Oh, here's the motto! What a dear old thing, and enormously old! See here, under the crest,
gpt
Je vous en prie Bel-ami.
human
Yes, it is charming, as you say. But I only wish to return it to its owners, Tom.
gpt
Je vous en prie Bel-ami.
human
I remember that your grandfather said it belonged to the Bellamys, said his grandmother.
gpt
Of course: how could I forget that? I have never looked at it properly since the day I first saw it. It is a charming motto--they were very charming and distinguished people. I suppose this is a pretty way of saying that they could not live without their friends. I beg of you, Belami;--it is a quaint fancy; one might turn it in two or three pretty ways.
human
Or they may have meant that they only looked to themselves for what they wanted, _Je vous en prie Bellamy!_ said Tom gallantly.
gpt
All right; I think that I shall start to-morrow or next day. If you have no special plans,
human
Do go, my dear; you may get some shooting, as you say,
gpt
You've started me off on a fine romantic adventure, said the young man, smiling.
human
Come; my cigar's gone out, and it never was good for much; let's go in and try the cards, and talk about things; perhaps you'll think of something more about the Bellamys. You said that my grandfather had a classmate