human
The subtle differences in the nature of man and woman are more interesting than the obvious ones,
gpt
What are you leading up to now? she asked.
human
I expected your first words to be an explanation or an apology, or both. How does it happen that this is the place where we first meet?
gpt
You were very, very kind, Mrs. Van Tassel, and I hope I assured you of my appreciation in my letter; but I found I could get a room at the hotel near you, and then affairs taking a favorable turn I left Boston suddenly, and none too soon; none too soon; I have been here all day. How stupendous it is! You are on your way to the Marine Café. May I go with you?
human
Oh, you have seen Jack, or my sister.
gpt
No.
human
Then how comes it that you are so well informed?
gpt
Happily for me, I ran across Aunt Love.
human
Oh, that explains her prolonged absence perhaps. Usually it is hard for us to persuade her to spend a whole day down here. We must hurry a little, I think. Clover laughed.
gpt
Hurrying is the normal condition of people who try to keep appointments at the Fair.
human
What I started to speak of when I first met you was the contrast of a man’s and woman’s way of approaching that bronze, said Page.
gpt
I went up to it and especially noticed the muscles and veins of the man’s hand and the truthful way the fingers sink into the flesh of the baby it supports. You approached it and took hold of the baby’s hand and patted his leg. Now why didn’t I want to pat that little fellow’s fat leg?
human
I give it up, laughed Clover.
gpt
I can only say you had very poor taste.
human
No, there is a deep reason for the difference. Of course it is a woman’s nature to pet a baby.
gpt
What a deep discovery! I congratulate you on the result of your explorations. Do you think you shall write a book about it?
human
I amuse you, Mrs. Van Tassel.
gpt
Yes, you do, I won’t deny it.
human
Still it is interesting, Page went on musingly,
gpt
That doesn’t sound complimentary to us, Mr. Page. I hope you mean well.
human
Yes. I revere the wise arrangement by which it takes a man and a woman to make one complete being; and the more I observe and understand refined human nature, the more I think I see the possibilities, and what it was intended that marriage should be. You are a good walker, Mrs. Van Tassel.
gpt
Yes; I am thinking how impatient Mildred and Jack will be with me. I will give you a subject for your analytical mind. Make a record of the broken appointments at the World’s Fair and discover the reasons for them. You would have a psychological study of absorbing interest.
human
All phases of human nature are interesting.
gpt
Even that where vials of righteous wrath are poured out upon you for delinquency when you know you haven’t any defense to offer? You are my defense this time.
human
What do you want me to say?
gpt
Oh, I wouldn’t trust you to say anything. I am morally certain that you would tell the truth.
human
That isn’t so very damaging, is it?
gpt
Why, certainly. You would tell them that I stopped to make love to the bronze baby; and if Mildred heard that, hungry as she is by this time, you would soon have to formulate exceptions to your rule that women are all affection outwardly. By the way, what a fortunate experience yours must have been.