human
Bessy, I said,
gpt
They have, indeed!
human
Have you remarked, I continued,
gpt
It would seem so, truly,
human
Let us recapitulate, my beloved, I said,
gpt
And to fall in love, at length, with a wild Virginian girl, quite unworthy of you!
human
Nay, I answered,
gpt
Ay, but you have not added, dear Richard, she said, still smiling,
human
Perhaps I did not recognize its full value, I replied;
gpt
I do not wonder that you saw nothing worth caring for in me at first, rejoined Bessy.
human
If you had hated me, and despised me, I could not blame you; for when I think of my sauciness and folly that night and the next morning, I feel even now quite ashamed of myself. But there is some excuse to be made for a wild, somewhat spoiled girl, Richard, who has never known love, or what it means, or what it is like. She says and does a thousand things that she would never think of if she had a grain more experience. But now tell me, when was it you began first to judge a little more favourably of me? for all this has grown upon us so imperceptibly, that I do not really know where it began.
gpt
It began on my part, I answered,
human
I am afraid, Richard, said Bessy,
gpt
Well, love, I answered,
human
Ay, cried Bessy, eagerly,
gpt
Assuredly, it bound us very closely together, I answered
human
No two people, after having experienced such sensations of interest and anxiety for each other, could ever feel towards each other as they did before.
gpt
It was very soon 'Richard and Bessy' after that, she answered, thoughtfully. Then, raising her eyes to mine, with one of her sunny smiles, she added--
human
And I fancy in our own hearts it was 'dear Richard' and 'dear Bessy.'
gpt
It certainly was in mine, dear girl, I replied;
human
Your saving me from death a second time,
gpt
The strange, close intimacy into which we were thrown during our long wanderings--intimacy such as, perhaps, never before existed between two unmarried persons.
human
And which you used so nobly, she added.
gpt
Oh, Richard, if there were nothing else but your generous, delicate kindness during that night and day--kindness which, while I loved you as a wife, made me trust and rely upon you as a brother--were there nothing but that, I should, I believe, feel myself justified in overleaping barriers which would be insurmountable in other circumstances, and casting away all consideration but of what is due to you.
human
But my happiness must not be alone consulted, I replied.
gpt
Whatever we do must be for your happiness also. Dear Bessy, you have lain and slept in these arms; your head has been pillowed on this bosom; your heart has beat fondly against mine. Now tell me, would you withdraw yourself from that resting-place?
human
Oh, no, no, no! she cried;
gpt
And will you be perfectly happy here?
human
There, she said, raising her head with a start, but without answering my question--
gpt
May I not read them?
human
Yes, if you will, she answered;
gpt
It may serve a very good purpose, Bessy. If I am not mistaken, it will enable me, I do believe, to remove from your mind an error, which, as you have said, might grow into a sad memory, might overshadow our mutual happiness as we stood together at the altar, and often come like a dark cloud over the brightness of our future fate.
human
Indeed! she exclaimed, with a doubting and bewildered look;
gpt
I do not see how that can be, Richard.
human
May I read, Bessy?
gpt
Assuredly, she answered;