human
You pretty dear, come and let me pat you, the young lady cried, looking down at the dog, as if there were nobody else in the world.
gpt
Oh, I am so fond of dogs--what is your name? Come and tell me, darling.
human
Her name is 'Grace,' said the master, advancing in a bashful but not clumsy way.
gpt
The most beautiful name in the world, I think.
human
Oh, do you think so, Mr.---- but I beg your pardon, you have not told me what your own name is, I think.
gpt
I hope you are quite well, he answered, turning his gun away carefully;
human
Oh yes! and the lovely willow-trees! I never noticed them so before. I had no idea that they did all this.
gpt
Neither had I, said the young man, trying to be most agreeable, and glancing shyly at the haze of silver in lily fingers glistening;
human
No! how can you be so stupid? Excuse me--I did not mean that, I am sure. But they do it because it is their nature; and they like to do it.
gpt
You know them, no doubt; and you understand them, because you are like them.
human
I am really astonished, the fair maid said, with the gleam of a smile in her lively eyes, but her bright lips very steadfast,
gpt
Oh no! oh no! You are not one bit--I am sure you will never be like a willow. What could I have been thinking of?
human
No harm whatever, I am sure of that, she answered, with so sweet a look, that he stopped from scraping the toe of his boot on a clump of moss; and in his heart was wholly taken up with her--
gpt
I am sure that you meant to be very polite.
human
More than that--a great deal more than that--oh, ever so much more than that!
gpt
I am sure that I ought to go,
human
And so ought I, long and long ago. I am sure I cannot tell why I stop. If you were to get into any trouble----
gpt
You are very kind. You need not be anxious. If you do not know why you stop--the sooner you run away at full speed the better.
human
Oh, I hope you won't say that, he replied, being gifted by nature with powers of courting, which only wanted practice.
gpt
I really think that you scarcely ought to say so unkind a thing as that.
human
Very well, then. May I say this, that you have important things to attend to, and that it looks--indeed it does--as if it was coming on to rain?
gpt
I assure you there is no fear of that--although, if it did, there is plenty of shelter. But look at the sun--how it shines in your hair! Oh, why do you keep your hair so short? It looks as if it ought to be ten feet long.
human
Well, suppose that it was--not quite ten feet, for that would be rather hard to manage--but say only half that length, and then for a very good reason was all cut off--but that is altogether another thing, and in no way can concern you. I give you a very good day, sir.
gpt
No, no! you will give me a very bad day, if you hurry away so suddenly. I am anxious to know a great deal more about you. Why do you live in this lonely place, quite as if you were imprisoned here? And what makes you look so unhappy sometimes, although your nature is so bright? There! what a brute I am! I have made you cry. I ought to shoot myself.
human
You must not talk of such wicked things. I am not crying; I am very happy--at least, I mean quite happy enough. Good-bye! or I never shall bear you again.
gpt
I shall come again--you must let me do that--I am sure that I can help you.
human
Here comes that Miss Patch, of course, she said.
gpt
I wonder whether she has spied him out. Her eyes are always everywhere.
human
Oh, my darling child, cried Miss Patch, an elderly lady of great dignity;
gpt
I had no idea you were gone so far. Come in, I beg of you, come this moment; what has excited you like this?
human
Nothing at all. At least, I mean, I am not in the least excited. Oh! look at the beautiful sunset!
gpt
Oh dear no! not there, cried her charge in a hurry;
human
I thought that I saw a spotted dog, the lady answered, still gazing steadily down the side of the forest by which the youth had made his exit;
gpt
Yes, I dare say. I believe that there is a dog with some spots in the neighbourhood.