human
I thought you were never coming! Hal, I've seen her.
gpt
Where?
human
At the band. Driving with her mother. Lady Cinnamond was uncommon kind--let me ride on her side of the carriage. Hal, she blushed--blushed when she saw me! She was looking stunning--so pale and cool; she never has much colour in her cheeks, has she? She had on one of those worked muslin gowns, and a big floppy hat with black streamers to it, and black velvet round her neck--nothing pink or blue to take your eyes from her face.
gpt
Yes?
human
Yes? oh, that was all. I rode beside her, and looked at her, and her hand lay on the side of the carriage quite close to me--I wanted to kiss it, but I didn't dare. And she let me hold it for a moment when I bade them good-day--at least, perhaps she didn't let me, but I did, anyhow--and she blushed, blushed divinely.
gpt
Old boy, I'm sorry--'pon my word I am. But after all, she is free to choose, ain't she? With any other girl one wouldn't think much of a blush. But one never sees her change colour, and I came upon her suddenly, so she couldn't have been thinking of me before. I thought old Sir Arthur would never have done with congratulating me on my escape, and that sort of thing--and a man can't be rude to his prospective papa-in-law, can he? But when I saw the greys coming down the drive, and the two parasols in the carriage--why, I made myself scarce in no time, and the old boy positively beamed upon my departure.
human
And having made sure of the lady and her parents both, when do you propose to clinch the matter?
gpt
Why, Hal, you don't imagine that I meant to run away from our compact? We'll draw lots who shall speak first exactly as we arranged. Unless --with sudden fierce suspicion--
human
Bob! cried Gerrard, so reproachfully that his friend could not doubt him.
gpt
I had given up all thoughts of it. I never went near her without talking of you.
human
Oh! said Charteris rather blankly.
gpt
I hope you haven't made her think I'm like a brute in a poetry-book? Because if so, she'll be disappointed.
human
I can't help what she thinks, growled Gerrard.
gpt
I told her nothing that wasn't true.
human
I don't suppose you did. But it's the finishing touches that count in these things, my boy. And if she chooses to fit me out with a halo and a pedestal--why, when she discovers the truth, I shall really be _finished off_. But after all, with reviving cheerfulness,
gpt
Bob, you are really in earnest? It isn't one of your jokes?
human
Jokes, indeed! said Charteris, in high dudgeon.
gpt
I'll show you how much in earnest I am, Lieutenant Henry Gerrard. We'll go to business to-morrow, if you please.
human
Then you wish to draw the lots to-night?
gpt
No, don't let us have any melodramatic nonsense with straws, or bits of wood of different lengths. We'll go down to the gateway to-morrow between one and two, when there's scarcely a creature about, and one shall look up the street, and the other down. Whoever can count twenty human beings first shall have first right to speak. Are you agreeable?
human
All serene. But what if we both call out at once?
gpt
Try again, of course. It ain't likely to happen twice. The sentry will think we have got a wager on, so there won't be any fuss.