human
To-morrow, to-morrow! He walks away, and returns to her.
gpt
Have you read--have you ever read The Talking Oak, Miss Wyatt?
human
Tennyson's? A thousand times. Isn't it charming?
gpt
Why, that's lovely,--that attribution of human feeling to the tree. Don't you think so?
human
Yes, yes; beautiful. But it's terrible, too; terrible. Supposing the oak really had human feeling; or supposing that a man had been meant in the figure of an oak -- He has drawn near Constance again; but now he retreats.
gpt
Ah, I can't work out the idea.
human
What idea? I can't imagine what you mean.
gpt
Ah! I can. My trouble is, I can't _say_ what I mean! This was sometime a paradox.
human
Oh! I should think, a riddle.
gpt
Some day I hope you'll let me read it to you.
human
Why not now?
gpt
If you only meant what you said, it would be--so much better than if I said what I meant!
human
You are dealing in mysteries to-day.
gpt
Oh, the greatest of them! But don't mind. Wait! I'll try to tell you what I mean. I won't make you stand, while I talk. Here! He wheels up in front of the picture one of the haircloth sofas; Constance mechanically sinks down upon it, and he takes his place at her side; she bends upon him a look of smiling amusement.
human
I can put my meaning best, I think, in the form of allegory. Do you like allegory, Miss Wyatt?
gpt
Yes. That is, not very much.
human
Oh! You don't like allegory! Upon second thoughts, I don't myself. We will not try allegory. We will try a supposed case. I think that's always the best way, don't you?
gpt
No, I don't like any sort of indirection. I believe the straightforward way is the best.
human
Yes, so do I; but it's impossible. We _must_ try a supposed case.
gpt
Well!
human
Ah! I can't say anything if you laugh. It's a serious matter.
gpt
I should never have thought so. With a sudden return of her old morbid mood:
human
I beg your pardon for laughing. What right have I to laugh? Go on, Mr. Bartlett, and I will listen as I should have done. I am ashamed.
gpt
No, no! That won't do! You mustn't take me so seriously as that! Oh, Miss Wyatt, if I could only be so much your friend, your fool,--I don't care what,--as to banish that look, that tone from you for ever!
human
Why do you care?
gpt
Why do I care?
human
Yes. Why should you mind whether so weak and silly a thing as I is glad or sad? I can't understand. Why have you had so much patience with me? Why do you take all this trouble on my account, and waste your time on me? Why
gpt
He walks away to the other side of the room with signs of great inward struggle; then he swiftly returns to her side where she has risen and stands near the sofa, and seizes her hand.
human
Well, I will tell you why. No, no! I can't! It would be
gpt
Outrageous! Gross violation of good faith! Infernal shame!
human
Why, papa, what _do_ you mean? Oh poor papa! He's asleep, and in _such_ a wretched position! From which she hastens to move him, while Bartlett, recovering from the amaze in which the appositeness of the General's remarks had plunged him, breaks into a harsh
gpt
Ha! ha! Constance turns and advances upon him in threatening majesty:
human
Did you _laugh_, Mr. Bartlett?
gpt
Well, I don't know whether you call it laughing. I smiled.
human
I--I--I can't say.
gpt
You were laughing at General Wyatt!
human
Was there nothing to laugh at?
gpt
For children! For vulgar, silly boys! For a gentleman, nothing!
human
Then I have no excuse, unless I say that I am no gentleman.
gpt
Very well. As you like. I am sorry to have offended you. I shall take care never to offend you again.