human
Ah! she has not forgotten, you see, sir, said Henry, exultant.
gpt
She knows how naughty she was.
human
Certainly I was a rebel,
gpt
A rebel! repeated Henry.
human
Yes; you and papa had quarrelled terribly, and you set both him and mamma, and Mrs. Pryor, and everybody, at defiance. You said he had insulted you----
gpt
He _had_ insulted me,
human
And you wanted to leave Sympson Grove directly. You packed your things up, and papa threw them out of your trunk; mamma cried, Mrs. Pryor cried; they both stood wringing their hands begging you to be patient; and you knelt on the floor with your things and your up-turned box before you, looking, Shirley, looking--why, in one of _your_ passions. Your features, in such passions, are not distorted; they are fixed, but quite beautiful. You scarcely look angry, only resolute, and in a certain haste; yet one feels that at such times an obstacle cast across your path would be split as with lightning. Papa lost heart, and called Mr. Moore.
gpt
Enough, Henry.
human
No, it is not enough. I hardly know how Mr. Moore managed, except that I recollect he suggested to papa that agitation would bring on his gout; and then he spoke quietly to the ladies, and got them away; and afterwards he said to you, Miss Shirley, that it was of no use talking or lecturing now, but that the tea-things were just brought into the schoolroom, and he was very thirsty, and he would be glad if you would leave your packing for the present and come and make a cup of tea for him and me. You came; you would not talk at first, but soon you softened and grew cheerful. Mr. Moore began to tell us about the Continent, the war, and Bonaparte--subjects we were both fond of listening to. After tea he said we should neither of us leave him that evening; he would not let us stray out of his sight, lest we should again get into mischief. We sat one on each side of him. We were so happy. I never passed so pleasant an evening. The next day he gave you, missy, a lecture of an hour, and wound it up by marking you a piece to learn in Bossuet as a punishment-lesson--'Le Cheval Dompté.' You learned it instead of packing up, Shirley. We heard no more of your running away. Mr. Moore used to tease you on the subject for a year afterwards.
gpt
She never said a lesson with greater spirit, subjoined Moore.
human
She then, for the first time, gave me the treat of hearing my native tongue spoken without accent by an English girl.
gpt
She was as sweet as summer cherries for a month afterwards, struck in Henry:
human
You talk of me as if I were not present,
gpt
Are you sure you _are_ present? asked Moore.
human
There have been moments since my arrival here when I have been tempted to inquire of the lady of Fieldhead if she knew what had become of my former pupil.
gpt
She is here now.
human
I see her, and humble enough; but I would neither advise Harry nor others to believe too implicitly in the humility which one moment can hide its blushing face like a modest little child, and the next lift it pale and lofty as a marble Juno.
gpt
One man in times of old, it is said, imparted vitality to the statue he had chiselled; others may have the contrary gift of turning life to stone.
human
A strange phrase; what may it mean?
gpt
You mean, he said at last,
human
Ingenious! responded Shirley.
gpt
If the interpretation pleases you, you are welcome to hold it valid. _I_ don't care.
human
Behold the metamorphosis! he said;
gpt
I have forgotten the very first line.
human
Which I have not. _My_ memory, if a slow, is a retentive one. I acquire deliberately both knowledge and liking. The acquisition grows into my brain, and the sentiment into my breast; and it is not as the rapid-springing produce which, having no root in itself, flourishes verdurous enough for a time, but too soon falls withered away. Attention, Henry! Miss Keeldar consents to favour you. 'Voyez ce cheval ardent et impétueux,' so it commences.
gpt
Unless I heard the whole repeated I cannot continue it,
human
Yet it was quickly learned--'soon gained, soon gone,'