human
Only four spoonsful left, she declared briskly,
gpt
Right! he answered.
human
I'll bring it to-morrow. Fresh ground, no chicory, and all the rest of it. But--Miss Pellissier!
gpt
Well?
human
Are you quite sure that you want us this evening? Wouldn't you rather be alone? Just say the word, and we'll clear out like a shot.
gpt
You are afraid, she said,
human
Madman!
gpt
Blithering ass!
human
You're very nice, both of you, she said gently.
gpt
But I'm afraid you are going to be in a hopeless minority here as regards me.
human
You can't imagine, Sydney exclaimed,
gpt
Well, I don't know, she said thoughtfully.
human
I always notice that people find it very easy to believe what they want to believe, and you see I'm not in the least popular. Miss Ellicot, for instance, considers me a most improper person.
gpt
Miss Ellicot! That old cat!
human
Miss Ellicot! Brendon echoed.
gpt
As if it could possibly matter what such a person thinks of you.
human
You are positively eloquent to-night--both of you, she declared.
gpt
But, you see, appearances are very much against me. He knew my name, and also that I had been living in Paris, and a man doesn't risk claiming a girl for his wife, as a rule, for nothing. He was painfully in earnest, too. I think you will find that his story will be believed, whatever I say; and in any case, if he is going to stay on here, I shall have to go away.
human
Don't say that, Sydney begged.
gpt
We will see that he never annoys you.
human
He is evidently a friend of Mrs. White's, she said,
gpt
she added.
human
This is much the cheapest place I know of where things are moderately clean, and I should hate rooms all by myself. Dear me, what a nuisance it is to have a pseudo husband shot down upon one from the skies.
gpt
And such a beast of a one,
human
I wonder, he said,
gpt
Can you think of anything? Anna answered.
human
I can't! He appears to be a most immovable person.
gpt
There ought to be some means of getting at him, he said.
human
The fellow seems to know your name, Miss Pellissier, and that you have lived in Paris. Might we ask you if you have ever seen him, if you knew him at all before this evening?