human
A man who has her as his wife should be very happy, Mattern pointed out.
gpt
You wouldn't want her to go back to what she'd been doing, and she won't stay with me.
human
Yes, sure. There was a desperate note in the boy's voice.
gpt
But she's not young. I mean for me--although, of course, she _looks_ young, he added, with a wild glance in her direction.
human
And she's not very--she isn't--
gpt
Then if you feel that way about her and do as I ask, it will really be a favor to me.
human
Why should I do you a favor?
gpt
To prove you're the better man, Mattern told him.
human
To heap coals of fire on my head. To prove that if there's bad blood in the family, it exists only in me.
gpt
I want you to take her with you.
human
Take her, Alard repeated numbly.
gpt
Where?
human
Anywhere she wants to go--to Earth or back to Erytheia, or any one of the planets she chooses.
gpt
Will she go with me? Alard challenged.
human
You have to ask her; she has the right--
gpt
Oh, I'll go with you, Alard, Lyddy interrupted joyfully.
human
I'd go with anybody right now, but especially you.
gpt
Even if you know I love you only as a sister?
human
That's better than nothing, Lyddy said.
gpt
Besides, you could change your mind. I think you and me have a lot more in common than him and me.
human
I want to make sure there will always be someone to take care of her, to watch over her, Mattern told his brother.
gpt
Funny, I wouldn't have done what I did except for the sake of winning her, and now that I've won her, I can't hold her because of what I did to get her. But she was my dream and I want her to be cherished.
human
That's noble of you, Len, Lyddy said.
gpt
I'll think of you often, and I won't be mad at you. She got up and linked her arm in Alard's.
human
You'll take good care of me, won't you, hon?
gpt
I'll take good care of her,
human
Splendid, Mattern said.
gpt
I wouldn't want her to be cast adrift. She knows so little of any of the worlds outside her own restricted sphere.
human
Sure, Alard replied miserably,
gpt
I understand. I'll do my best.
human
I hope in time you'll come to forgive me, Mattern said,
gpt
Oh, I don't hate you any more, Alard assured him.
human
I guess, in your way, you've had as much to put up with as I did. He frowned in perplexity.
gpt
But why did it have to be me?
human
You'll change your mind about that, too, Mattern said comfortably.
gpt
Lyddy is a very accomplished woman.