human
What's come over the house? she asked.
gpt
You invited me to dinner at half-past seven! Here you are, not only not dressed, but with your hair obviously unbrushed! And Tora and Dick went off to the new house, Ellen tells me, at half-past five, with a lantern, and haven't come back yet!
human
Oh, did they? Then Dick's evidently made it all right with Tora too. He rose and stretched himself.
gpt
I think you'll have to look out for something to-night or to-morrow, Winnie. Dick has made up his mind; he's decided that the house is otherwise delightful, but has just one fault. He'd be lonely in it as a bachelor.
human
I wish it hadn't come so soon. I'm not ready. And I do have such bad luck!
gpt
He'll wait as long as you like. And how does the bad luck come in here?
human
I'm always forced into seeming to exact a sacrifice of some sort.
gpt
Well, from some points of view that was likely to follow from the line you took. From your own side of the matter, is it altogether a bad thing that a man should have to search his heart--to ask what you're really worth to him?
human
Suppose he should bear me a grudge afterwards?
gpt
Dick's too square with his conscience to do that. He knows it's his own act and his own responsibility.
human
At any rate I won't have any more vows, Stephen, no more on either side. I don't like them. I broke mine once. I thought I had a right to, but I didn't like doing it. Cyril had broken most of his, in my view, but people seem so often to forget that there's more than one. She gave an abrupt little laugh.
gpt
Cyril vowed to 'comfort' me! Imagine Cyril being obliged to vow to comfort anybody, poor man! He couldn't possibly do it.
human
In the matter of vows they let you down easy at the registry office.
gpt
In his heart Dick won't think that a marriage at all.
human
You put that just wrong. In his opinions he mayn't, in his heart he will. I know Dick Dennehy pretty well, and you may be sure of that.
gpt
I never wanted to be a lawless woman. But it was coming, or had come, to hatred; and it's such awful ruin to live with a person you hate--much worse, I think, than the things they do set you free for.
human
I can find you some very respectable authority for that--a good passage in Döllinger--but, I think, don't you, to-morrow? After all, there's such a thing as dinner!
gpt
There is, and it'll be disgracefully overcooked. She rose and came across to him.
human
Give me your blessing and a kiss, Cousin Stephen. I think I see happiness glimmering a long way off.
gpt
I don't think it's ever very far off, if you can see it,