human
Must I call Shirley a noble creature now?
gpt
If you wish to speak the truth, certainly.
human
Must I forgive her?
gpt
Forgive her? Naughty Robert! Was she in the wrong, or were you?
human
Must I at length love her downright, Cary?
gpt
Only give the word, and I'll try to obey you.
human
Indeed, you must not love her; the bare idea is perverse.
gpt
But then she is handsome, peculiarly handsome. Hers is a beauty that grows on you. You think her but graceful when you first see her; you discover her to be beautiful when you have known her for a year.
human
It is not you who are to say these things. Now, Robert, be good.
gpt
O Cary, I have no love to give. Were the goddess of beauty to woo me, I could not meet her advances. There is no heart which I can call mine in this breast.
human
So much the better; you are a great deal safer without. Good-night.
gpt
Why must you always go, Lina, at the very instant when I most want you to stay?
human
Because you most wish to retain when you are most certain to lose.
gpt
Listen; one other word. Take care of your own heart--do you hear me?
human
There is no danger.
gpt
I am not convinced of that. The Platonic parson, for instance.
human
Who--Malone?
gpt
Cyril Hall. I owe more than one twinge of jealousy to that quarter.
human
As to you, you have been flirting with Miss Mann. She showed me the other day a plant you had given her.--Fanny, I am ready.