human
Why, I thought that you were the man!
gpt
Everybody thought so, I guess, the young fellow said, with an absurd and childlike pride in the semblance in the midst of his grief over the reality.
human
But-- He hesitated, and Anderson waited, looking above at the play of lightning in the sky and smoking.
gpt
She's gone and got engaged to a man old enough to be her father. Lord! I guess he's older than her father--old enough to be her grandfather! cried the young fellow, with a burst of grief and rage and shame.
human
Yes, sir, old enough to be her grandfather, he repeated. His voice shook. His cigar had gone out. He struck a match and the head flew off. He swore softly and struck another. Sometimes a match refusing to ignite changes mourning to wrath and rebellion. The third match broke short in two and the burning head flew down on the sidewalk.
gpt
Wish I had hold of the man that made 'em, young Eastman said, viciously; and in the same breath:
human
What can the girl be thinking of, that she flings herself away like that? Hang it all, is a woman a devil or a fool?
gpt
Who is the man?
human
Oh, he is an old army officer, a major--Major Arms, I believe his name is. He's somebody they've known a long time. He lives in Kentucky, I believe, in the same place where the Carrolls used to live and where she went to school. Oh, it's a good match. They're just tickled to death over it. Her sister feels rather bad, I guess, but, Lord! she'd do the same thing herself, if she got the chance. They're all alike. The boy said the last with a cynical bitterness beyond his years. He sneered effectively. He crossed one leg over the other and puffed his relighted cigar. The last match had ignited. Anderson said nothing. He was accommodating his ideas to the change of situation. Presently young Eastman spoke again.
gpt
Well, he said, in a tone of wretched conceit,
human
I don't think she's much like the other,
gpt
She's full as pretty.
human
I don't believe Bessy would go and marry a man old enough to be her grandfather, said the boy, with a burst of piteous challenge. Then suddenly he tossed his cigar into the street and flung up his hands to his head with a despairing gesture.
gpt
Oh, my God!
human
Be a man,
gpt
I am a man, ain't I? What do you suppose I care about it? I don't want to marry and settle down yet, anyway. I like to fool with the girls, but as for anything else-- I am a--man. If you think I am broken up over this, if anybody thinks I am-- Lord-- The young fellow rose and squared his shoulders. He looked down at Anderson.
human
There's one thing I want to say, he added.
gpt
I don't want you to think--I don't want to give the impression that she--that she has been flirting, or anything like that. She hasn't. Of course she might have been a little franker, I will admit that, for I have been there a good deal, but I don't suppose she thought it was anything serious, and it wasn't. She was right. But she did not flirt. Those girls are not that sort. Great Scott! I should like to see a man venture on any little familiarities with them--holding hands, or a kiss, or anything. They respect themselves, those girls do. They have been brought up better than the Banbridge girls. Oh no, she hasn't treated me badly or anything, and of course I don't care a damn about her getting married, only I'll be hanged if I like, on general principles, to see a pretty young girl throwing herself away on a man old enough to be her father. It's wrong--it's indecent, you know.
human
Try one of these, he said.
gpt
It's a brand new to me, and I think it fine. I think you'll agree with me.
human
Thanks, said Eastman, with a sound in his voice like a heart-broken child's. He almost sobbed, but he took the cigar gratefully.
gpt
Well, I must be going, he said.
human
Mother 'll wonder where I am. It was too deuced hot to go to bed, so I've been strolling around. But I've got to turn in sometime. These nights are too hot to sleep, anyhow.
gpt
Yes, they are pretty tough, said Anderson.
human
Wish we could have a shower.
gpt
So do I. Say, this cigar is a dandy.
human
I thought you'd like it. Of course it isn't a cigar that everybody would like. It requires some taste, perhaps a cultivated taste.
gpt
Yes, that's so, replied the boy, with a pleased air.
human
I guess it does. I shouldn't say every man would appreciate this.
gpt
Have another,