human
It was a good fairy that brought you in so early to-day, she said.
gpt
Really, I am pleased you should have had the chance to meet Dr. Nevington. And I could see he was quite taken with you, by the way he began to talk before I had the chance to introduce you. But that's the vicar all over! He never is one to stand upon ceremony.
human
So I can believe,
gpt
You saw it? Ah, part of his thoughtfulness, wanting to put everybody at their ease. And I'm sure if there's one thing more disheartening than another, it is to have two of your friends standing up side by side, as stiff as a couple of pokers, without so much as a word. I know I am too ready to enter into conversation with strangers; but if there is a thing I cannot bear, it's any appearance of coolness.
human
Very warm, is it not? she remarked, perhaps superfluously. Then she came to the point.
gpt
I know you are not very much of a churchgoer, Mr. Iglesias.
human
I am afraid not --he paused a moment.
gpt
You see, I was born and brought up in another faith.
human
Yes--so George has told me. But I am sure none of us would ever be so illiberal as to throw that up against you. The vicar has been talking so beautifully about Christian charity; and we all know it was a thing you could not help. It was your misfortune, anybody would understand that, not your fault. Too, it's all over long ago and forgotten.
gpt
I suppose it is,
human
Not that that's anything to be otherwise than thankful for, she added, with a slightly misplaced effort at consolation.
gpt
Of course anyone must feel how providential it is to be saved from all those terrible false doctrines and practices--not that I know anything about them. There's so much, don't you think, it is so much better not to know anything about. Then one feels more at liberty to speak.
human
I am not sure that the matter had occurred from exactly that point of view before.
gpt
Really now, and a clever person like you! Mrs. Lovegrove passed her handkerchief across her forehead again.
human
George has a wonderful opinion of your cleverness, you know. And that is why I have always wished you and the vicar could be brought together. I have--yes, I own to it--I have been afraid sometimes you were a little unsettled about religion, and that it might unsettle Georgie, too. But I knew if you once met the vicar that would all be set right. As I often say to George, let anybody just _see_ Dr. Nevington and then they will begin to have an inkling of all they miss in not hearing him in the pulpit.