human
I am so lonely, sometimes, she moaned.
gpt
The days are so long.
human
And yet you do not come and sit with me in the mornings, as you used to do at first.
gpt
She is always there,
human
Indeed she is not! he cried, and she could feel the little breath of indignation he drew.
gpt
I am a great deal alone.
human
Not half as much as I am.
gpt
But what can I do? he asked, in despair.
human
It is my work. It is her palace. You are free to come and go as you will, and if you will not come--
gpt
I know, I know, she answered, still clinging to him.
human
You will say it is my fault. It is just like a man. And yet I know that you are there, hour after hour, with her, and she is young and beautiful. And she loves you--oh, I know she loves you!
gpt
How absurd! he exclaimed.
human
It is ridiculous. It is an insult to Donna Francesca to say that she is in love with me.
gpt
It is true. Gloria suddenly raised her head and drew back from him a very little.
human
I am a woman, she said.
gpt
I know and I understand. She meant to sacrifice herself and make you happy, by marrying you to me, and now she regrets it. It is enough to see her. She follows you with her eyes as you move, and there is a look in them--
human
It is altogether too absurd! he said.
gpt
I do not know what to say. I can only laugh.
human
Because you know it is true, answered Gloria.
gpt
It is for your sake that she has done it all, that she makes such a pretence of being friendly to me, that she pushes us into society, and brings her friends here to see me. They never come unless she brings them, she added bitterly.
human
There is no fear of that. The Duchess of Astrardente would not have her black horses seen standing in the Macel de' Corvi, unless Donna Francesca made her do it and came with her.
gpt
Why not?
human
She would not have people know that she had friends living in such a place,