human
Of course he has to, she said, trying to make her tone as matter of fact as might be.
gpt
Didn't you know it?
human
Know it! Did _you_?
gpt
I knew it in a general way, darling. I suppose, when he gives himself to the police--
human
The police! Evie screamed.
gpt
Am I to be engaged to a man who--gives himself up to the police?
human
It will only be for a little while, dear--
gpt
I don't care whether it's for a little while or foreverit can't _be_. What is he thinking of? What are _you_ thinking of? Don't you _see_? How can I face the world--with all my invitations--when the man I'm engaged to is--in jail?
human
I knew that--in some ways--it might be hard for you--
gpt
I must say, Miriam, you choose your words skilfully. But you're wrong, do you see? There's no way in which it can be hard for me, because there's no way in which it's possible.
human
Oh yes, there is, dear--if you love him.
gpt
That has nothing to do with it. Of course I love him. Haven't I said so? But that doesn't make any difference. Can't I love him without being engaged to--to--to a man who has to go to jail?
human
Certainly; but you can't love him if you don't feel that you must--that you simply _must_--stand by his side.
gpt
There you go again, Miriam, with your queer ideas. It's exactly what any one would expect you to say.
human
I hope so.
gpt
Oh, you needn't hope so, because they would--any one who knew you. But I have to do what's right. I know what I feel in my conscience--and I have to follow it. And besides, I couldn't--I couldn't --her voice began to rise again--
human
I couldn't face it--I couldn't bear it--not if I loved him a great deal better than I do.
gpt
That's something you must think about very seriously, dear--
human
I don't have to! she cried, with a stamp of her foot.
gpt
I know it already. It wouldn't make any difference if I thought about it a thousand years. I couldn't be engaged to a man who was in jail, not if I worshipped the ground he trod on.
human
But when he's innocent, darling--
gpt
It's jail, just the same. I can't be engaged to people just because they're innocent. It isn't right to expect it of me. And, anyhow, she added, passionately,
human
I can't do it. It would kill me. I should never lift my head again. I can't--I can't. It's hateful of any one to say I ought to. I'm surprised at you, Miriam, when you know how dear mamma would have forbidden it. It's all very well for you to give advice, when you have no family--and no one to think about--and hardly any invitations-- Well, I can't, and there's an end of it. If that's your idea of love, then, I must say, my conception is a little different. I've always had high ideals, and I feel obliged to hold to them, however you may condemn me.
gpt
But I'm not condemning you, Evie dear. If you feel what you say, there's nothing for it but to see Mr. Ford and tell him so.
human
That's easy for you to say.
gpt
If you speak to him as decidedly as to me, I should think it would be easy for you to do.
human
And still easier for you.