human
Why, papa, how you _have_ been smoking!
gpt
Yes, I find it rests me after a bad night. I didn't sleep well.
human
Oh, poor papa! How do _you_ do, Mr. Bartlett?
gpt
Oh, quite well, quite well _now_, thank you. I--I--had been a little off my--diet.
human
Oh!
gpt
Yes. But I've gone back now, and I'm all right again. He retires to the easel, and mechanically resumes his pipe, but takes it from his mouth again, and after an impatient glance at it, throws it out of the window.
human
When you're ready, Miss Wyatt, we can begin any time. There's no hurry, though.
gpt
I'm ready now. Is everything in reach, papa?
human
Yes, my dear. I'm so perfectly comfortable that one touch more would make me miserable.
gpt
Can't I do something for you?
human
Not a thing. I'm a prodigy of content.
gpt
Not lift up this last fold of the chair, so your foot won't rest so heavily on the floor?
human
Was it resting heavily? I hadn't noticed. Yes, it was; how you see everything, my dear! Yes
gpt
Miss Wyatt, let me do that!
human
No, no! No one must touch papa but me. There, is that right, papa?
gpt
Exactly. That makes me pluperfectly comfortable. I haven't a wish in the world, and all I ask now is to
human
Get at your newspapers? Let me take off the wrappers for you.
gpt
Not on any account. He gently withdraws from her the newspaper she has taken up.
human
That is truly a kindness that kills. Open my papers for me? I'd as lief you'd put on my hat for me, my dear.
gpt
That is the one thing that can't be done for any man!
human
Why not? A woman can put on another woman's bonnet for her.
gpt
Ah, that's a different thing. A man doesn't wear his hat for looks.
human
That's true, papa,--_some_ of them. She turns gaily from her father, and looks up at Bartlett, who has smilingly listened. She gives a start, and suppresses a cry; she passes her hand quickly over her eyes, and then staying herself a moment with one hand on the back of a chair resumes with forced calm:
gpt
Shall we begin, now--ah--Mr.--Bartlett?