human
He is manly and brave, and has so much to say for himself, and is so good-looking, that what can any girl who has her heart at her own disposal wish for better than such a lover? It would have been quite impossible that either of Mr. Jones's daughters could ever have so whispered to herself. But was it not natural that such an unwhispered thought should have passed through the mind of Ada--Ada the beautiful, Ada the sentimental, Ada the young lady who certainly was in want of a lover?
gpt
He is very nice, certainly,
human
But what is the good of a man being nice when he is a 'woodcock'? said Edith.
gpt
Everybody says that his destiny is before him. I daresay he is nice, but what's the use?
human
You don't mean to say that you think he'll be killed?
gpt
I do, and I mean to say that if I were a man, it might be that I should have to be killed too. A man has to run his chance, and if he falls into such a position as this, of course he must put up with it. I don't mean to say that I don't like him the better for it.
human
Why does he not go away and leave the horrid country?
gpt
Because the more brave men that go away the more horrid the country will become. And then I think a man is always the happier if he has something really to think of. Such a one as Captain Clayton does not want to go to balls.
human
I suppose not,
gpt
Such a man, said Edith with an air of firmness,
human
Then he ought not to dance at all. Such a man ought not to want to get married.
gpt
Not if he means to be killed out of hand, said Edith.
human
The possible young woman must be left to judge of that. I shouldn't like to marry a 'woodcock,' however much I might admire him. I do think it well that there should be such men as Captain Clayton. I feel that if I were a man I ought to wish to be one myself. But I am sure I should feel that I oughtn't to ask a girl to share the world with me. Fancy marrying a man merely to be left a sorrowing widow! It is part of the horror of his business that he shouldn't even venture to dance, lest some poor female should be captivated.
gpt
A girl might be captivated without dancing,
human
I don't mean to say that such a man should absolutely tie himself up in a bag so that no poor female should run any possible danger, but he oughtn't to encourage such risks. To tell the truth, I don't think that Captain Clayton does.
gpt
the thing must go on in its own natural course. If misfortunes did come, why misfortunes must come. It was the same thing with any soldier or any sailor. If she were to fall in love with some officer,--for the supposition in its vague, undefined form was admissible even to poor Ada's imagination,--she would not be debarred from marrying him merely by the fact that he would have to go to the wars. Of course, as regarded Captain Yorke Clayton, this was merely a speculation. He might be engaged to some other girl already for anything she knew;--