human
Oh, bother! It's cake morning. Dot Waring turned from the Rectory breakfast-table with a flourish of impatience.
gpt
And I do so want to hear all about it, she said.
human
You might have come down earlier, Ralph.
gpt
My good sister, said the rector's son, helping himself largely to bread and honey,
human
You didn't, Ralph! I am quite sure you didn't! I'm not going to believe anything so absurd.
gpt
All right. I didn't, said Ralph complacently.
human
And Sir Giles didn't get drunk as a lord and tumble about the ballroom, and yell comic--awfully comic--songs, till someone hauled him off to the refreshment-room and filled him up with whiskey till he could sing no more!
gpt
Oh, Ralph! Not really! How utterly beastly! Was Lady Carfax there?
human
She was at first, but she cleared out. I don't know where she went to.
gpt
Oh, poor Lady Carfax! How horrid for her! Ralph, I--I could kick that man!
human
So could I, said Ralph heartily,
gpt
P'r'aps he'll die of apoplexy first,
human
Whatever he dies of, said Ralph,
gpt
I shall attend his funeral with the greatest pleasure. Hadn't you better go and make that cake? I shall want it by tea-time.
human
You are a pig! the girl declared, pushing the sunny hair back from her gay young face.
gpt
Isn't Bertie late this morning? Perhaps he isn't coming. Dad won't be able to take him anyhow, for old Squinny is bad again and sent for him in a hurry.
human
That wretched old humbug! That means more beef-tea, not approaching dissolution. Old Squinny will never dissolve in the ordinary way.
gpt
Well, I must go. Dot reached the door and began to swing it to and fro, gathering impetus for departure.
human
By the way, was Bertie there?
gpt
Bertie who?
human
Bertie Errol, of course. Who else?
gpt
There are plenty of Berties in the world, remarked Ralph, helping himself again to bread and honey.
human
No, Bertram Errol was not present. But Napoleon Errol was. It was he who so kindly shunted Mrs. Damer on to me. _Nota bene_! Give Napoleon Errol a wide berth in future. He has the craft of a conjurer and the subtlety of a serpent. I believe he is a Red Indian, myself.
gpt
Oh, Ralph, he isn't! He is as white as you are.
human
He isn't white at all, Ralph declared,
gpt
Oh, bother! Dot swung open the door for the last time, turned to depart, and then exclaimed in a very different tone,
human
Why, Bertie, so here you are! We were just talking of you.
gpt
Hullo! he said, halting at the doorway.
human
Awfully nice of you! What were you saying, I wonder? Hullo, Ralph! Only just down, you lazy beggar? Ought to be ashamed of yourself.