human
Oh, _you're_ not like him, and you _never_ were!
gpt
Ah?
human
If I had not been blind, blind, blind, I never could have seen the slightest similarity. Like _him_? Never!
gpt
Ah! Then perhaps the resemblance, which we have noticed from time to time, and which has been the cause of some annoyance and embarrassment all round, was simply a disguise which I had assumed for the time being to accomplish a purpose of my own?
human
Oh, don't jest it away! It's your soul that I see now, your true and brave and generous heart; and if you pardoned me for mistaking you a single moment for one who had neither soul nor heart, I could never look you in the face again!
gpt
You seem to be taking a good provisional glare at me beforehand, then, Miss Wyatt. I've never been so nearly looked out of countenance in my life. But you needn't be afraid; I shall not pardon your crime.
human
No, you must not if you could. But you can't--you can't care for me after hearing what I could say to my father
gpt
That was in a moment of great excitement.
human
After hearing me rave about a man so unworthy of--any one--you cared for. No, your self-respect--everything--demands that you should cast me off.
gpt
It does. But I am inexorable,--you must have observed the trait before. In this case I will not yield even to my own colossal self-respect. Earnestly:
human
Ah, Constance, do you think I could love you the less because your heart was too true to swerve even from a traitor till he was proved as false to honour as to you? Lightly again:
gpt
Come, I like your fidelity to worthless people; I'm rather a deep and darkling villain myself.
human
You? Oh, you are as nobly frank and open as--as--as papa!
gpt
No, Constance, you are wrong, for once. Hear my dreadful secret; I'm not what I seem,--the light and joyous creature I look,--I'm an emotional wreck. Three short years ago, I was frightfully jilted --they all turn upon him in surprise--
human
Oh, I'm _so_ glad.
gpt
Are you? I didn't know it was such a laughing matter. I was always disposed to take those things seriously.
human
Yes, yes! But don't you see? It places us on more of an equality.
gpt
Does it? But you're not half as happy as I am.
human
Oh yes, I am! Twice.
gpt
Then that makes us just even, for so am I.