human
If you come with me some day, she said,
gpt
I will show you _my_ castle, and granny will be very glad to see you.
human
Where is the castle?
gpt
Where is the castle? she repeated, as if in bewilderment.
human
Well, it is up, up in the hills. Perhaps you haven't any hills in America?
gpt
Well, she declared, in the same lofty way,
human
To-morrow?
gpt
No; to-morrow I'm going away off to the Phoul-a-Phooka.
human
Where is that?
gpt
Miles away from here.
human
Are you going alone?
gpt
I'm going with some one, she answered, with her clear, musical laugh;
human
I have not asked, I said, provoked a little by her coolness.
gpt
I assure you, dear child, I have no wish to force your confidence.
human
It's some one we don't talk much about, she said, nodding her head sagaciously.
gpt
Granny says that there are people whom it's best not to meddle with.
human
And yet you are going to this place with the outlandish name in such company?
gpt
Oh, that is very different! she said.
human
When I am with this person I am in very good company; and who so well as he can tell me of the Phoul-a-Phooka and all those other things I want to hear?
gpt
You are a strange child,
human
How am I strange?
gpt
I mean different from others.
human
I am alone, you see, she said;
gpt
I should like to be friends with you,
human
I do not often make friends of strangers, she said, with some return of her former lofty manner--
gpt
Very well; there shall be a compact between us to like each other, I replied.
human
And the first fruits of our agreement shall be to arrange what day I may go with you to the castle and see your--relative.
gpt
Poor old granny! she said.
human
You will love her at first sight.
gpt
The gift is evidently in the family, I answered,
human
In the family? she repeated again, with that look of drollery upon her face which had almost upset my own gravity.
gpt
Never mind: you shall come and see for yourself, two days from now, when I get home from Phoul-a-Phooka.