human
A sharper, Niebeldingk repeated to himself,
gpt
He read the card:
human
Kohleman, retired clerk of court. And below was printed the addition:
gpt
Knight of several orders.
human
What decorations have you?
gpt
I have been very graciously granted the Order of the Crown, fourth class, and the general order for good behaviour.
human
Sit down,
gpt
Thank you, I'll take the liberty,
human
Once on the stairs you-- he was about to say
gpt
but he repressed the words.
human
I know, he began,
gpt
No, the old gentleman answered with touching honesty.
human
But you know it's pretty discouraging to have Meta get into that kind of a mess. I've had my suspicions for some time that that baggage is a keener, and I've often said to my sister: 'Look here, these theatrical women are no proper company for a girl--'
gpt
Well then, Niebeldingk exclaimed, overcome with astonishment,
human
I? the old gentleman quavered and pointed a funereal glove at his breast,
gpt
I? Oh, dear sakes alive! I'm not after anything. Do you imagine, my dear sir, that I get any fun out of tramping up and down in front of your house on my old legs? I'd rather sit in a corner and leave strange people to their own business. But what can I do? I live in my sister's house, and I do pay her a little board, for I'd never take a present, not a penny--that was never my way. But what I pay isn't much, you know, and so I have to make myself a bit useful in the boarding-house. The ladies have little errands, you know. And they're quite nice, too, except that they get as nasty as can be if their rooms aren't promptly cleaned in the morning, and so I help with the dusting, too ... If only it weren't for my asthma ... I tell, you, asthma, my dear sir--