human
Can't you give me a grain of hope? he went on. His voice was wistful.
gpt
We have so little time.
human
What--do you want me to say?
gpt
I want you to say--that you don't wish to see the last of me to-night.
human
I shouldn't be human if I _could_ wish that! the words seemed to speak themselves; and she, who had been taught to repress and hide emotion as if it were a vice, was glad that the truth was out. After all they had gone through together she couldn't send this man away believing her indifferent.
gpt
I--it doesn't seem as if we were strangers,
human
Strangers! I should think not, he echoed.
gpt
We mayn't know much about each other's tastes, but we do know about each other's souls, which is more than can be said of most men and women acquainted for half a lifetime. As for our pasts, you haven't had one, and I--well, if I swear to you that I've never murdered anybody, or been in prison, or committed an unforgivable crime, will you take my word?
human
If you told me you _were_ a murderer, or had committed some unforgivable crime, I--I don't feel as if I could believe it, Annesley assured him.
gpt
It--would hurt me to think evil of you. I'm sure it isn't you who are evil, but these men.
human
You're an angel to feel like that and speak like that! exclaimed Smith.
gpt
I don't deserve your goodness, but I appreciate it. I'd like to take your hand and kiss it when I thank you, but I won't, because you're alone with me, under my protection. To save me from trouble you've risked danger and put yourself in my power. I may be bad in some ways--most men are, or would be in women's eyes if women saw them as they are; but I'm not a brute. The worst I've ever done is to try to pay back a great injury, an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. Do you blame me for that?
human
I have no right--I don't know what the injury was, said the girl; and, hesitating a little,
gpt
I could, or anyhow, satisfaction: I confess that. About 'happiness,' I don't know much. But you could teach me.
human
I?
gpt
Yes. Do you believe there can be such a thing as love at first sight?
human
I can't tell. Books say so. Perhaps----
gpt
There's no 'perhaps.' I've found that out to-night. I believe love that comes at sight must be the only real love--a sort of electric call from soul to soul. The thing that's happened is just this: I've met the one woman--my help-mate. If I come out of this trouble, and can ask a girl like you to give herself to me, will you do it?
human
Oh, you say this because you think you ought to be grateful! cried Annesley.
gpt
But I don't want gratitude. This is the first time I've ever _lived_. I owe that to you. And it's more than you can owe to me.
human
You know almost as much about men as a child knows, Miss Grayle, he said,