human
Well, he said at last, turning to her,
gpt
I call that rather a cold sort of a greeting, after four years.
human
What should she have done, you great boy? she asked.
gpt
Should she have fallen upon your neck and kissed you?
human
Why, yes, Fox replied,
gpt
Fox, she protested,
human
That is something to be grateful for, dear lady, he said.
gpt
I would not have you think that I am not grateful--very grateful. It is one of the blessings showered upon me by a very heedless providence, he continued, smiling,
human
Oh, Fox! she protested.
gpt
Your deserts! If you had--
human
I know. The earth ought to be laid at my feet. I know what you think and I am grateful for that, too.
gpt
I think, he resumed reflectively,
human
And I, she said,
gpt
Who would believe it? But what, he asked,
human
There wasn't any _special_ reason. I meant to make that plain and I thought I had. I feel as if I ought to apologize for asking you at all, for you may have felt under some obligation to come just because you were asked. I hope you didn't, Fox, for--
gpt
I didn't,
human
I'm glad you didn't. Don't ever feel obliged to do anything for me--for us. She corrected herself quickly.
gpt
We are grateful, too,--at least, I am--for anything. No, there wasn't any special reason. I just wanted to see you with my own eyes. Four years is a long time.
human
Well, he asked, laughing a little,
gpt
That, she answered, still in her tone of gentle banter,
human
I shall not tell you. It would not be good for you. A step was heard in the hall.
gpt
Oh, she added, hastily, in a voice that was scarcely more than a whisper,