human
Little by little; who goes slowly goes safely, answered the doctor.
gpt
I am an old man, you must know.
human
Old! Annetta was glad of the opportunity to laugh at last.
gpt
Old? Eh, on Sunday, when you have on those new black trousers of yours that are tight, tight--you seem to me a boy as young as Gigetto. For my part, I should prefer you. You are more serious. Gigetto! What must I say? He is handsome, he may be good, but he has not a head. There is nothing in that pumpkin.
human
Blood of youth, answered Sor Tommaso.
gpt
It must boil. It must fling its chains about. Afterwards it begins to know the chains. Little by little it accustoms itself to them. Then it is quiet, quiet, as we old ones are. Sit down, my daughter. Serafina! A chair--the one that is not lame. These chairs remember the blessed soul of mamma,
human
Requiesca'!
gpt
Amen, responded Sor Tommaso.
human
You are so beautiful to-day, he continued, looking at her flowered bodice and new apron;
gpt
Where should I go? To Civitella. There was the fair. We ate certain chickens--tough! But the air of the mountain consumes. There were also fireworks.
human
What? Have you walked?
gpt
Even with two legs one can walk, laughed the girl.
human
But of course a beast is better with four. The beasts had all gone to Tivoli with wine for Rome. They had not come back yesterday morning. Therefore with these two feet I walked. I and many others, girls like me. It is true that I am half dead.
gpt
You are fresher than lettuce, observed Sor Tommaso.
human
And then you have climbed up my stairs. This is a true Christian act. God return it to you. I am alone all day.
gpt
But the Englishman comes to see you,
human
The Englishman, yes. He comes. More or less, he has almost cured me. But then, for his conversation, I say nothing!
gpt
Meanwhile he is also curing the abbess. He has a fortunate hand. There death, here death--he makes them all alive. Where is death, now? Here, perhaps? Hidden in some corner, or under the bed? He has certain medicines, that Englishman! Medicines that you do not even dream of. Strong! It is I that tell you. Sometimes, the whole house smells of them. Death could not resist them a moment. They drive even the flies out of the windows. The Englishman gave me some once. I had been in the sun and had drunk a gallon of cold water, foolish as I was. I was thirsty, as I am now. Well, he gave me a spoonful of something like water, mixed in water. I do not tell you anything. At first it burned me. Arch-priest, it burned! Then, not even a minute, and I had Paradise in my body. And so it passed.
human
Who knows? A cordial, perhaps, observed Sor Tommaso, thoughtfully.
gpt
I have such cordials, too.
human
I do not doubt it, answered the girl, suspiciously.
gpt
But I would rather not taste them. I feel quite well.