human
You haven't given account of yourself, yet,
gpt
Don't ask me, said the girl.
human
My excuse would sound too trivial to you, Clarice. Perhaps I wanted to watch the first stars of evening.
gpt
Or follow a frog to its nest in the weeds, supplemented Sydney,
human
Yes, that's just it, she replied.
gpt
I was preparing new lessons--for to-morrow!
human
How funny! laughed Mrs. Van Rensselaer.
gpt
I had forgotten you were a full-fledged school-teacher. Of course, I suppose you do have to think about your teaching some. Goodness, I wouldn't like it at all! It must be an awful task to bother with a lot of rough, dirty children! How many pupils have you?
human
Seventeen enrolled--but only seven or eight who attend,
gpt
Mercy, I thought you must have at least fifty, from all I saw back there! gasped Mrs. Van Rensselaer.
human
Well, I shouldn't think it would be much trouble to prepare lessons for that amount.
gpt
corrected Hope.
human
We don't measure them by the pound.
gpt
No, we size them up by the cord, laughed Sydney;
human
Dangerous pieces of humanity,
gpt
Hope can handle them all right, declared Mrs. Van Rensselaer.
human
She can handle anyone, for that matter. She's got more tact and diplomacy than any politician. Trust her to manage seven or eight children! Why, if she can't manage a person any other way, she'll actually _bully_ him. She can make you believe black is white every time.
gpt
Fr酳lein is so goot!
human
Thank you, replied Hope gratefully.
gpt
You see Louisa knows me _last_, Clarice, and her remark should show you that I have changed for the better.
human
I always told you there was chance for improvements, didn't I, Hopie?
gpt
Yes, you have said something about there being _room_ for improvement, but I always supposed you judged me to be a hopeless case. I'm glad though you think there's a _chance_! I always did want to improve!