human
Oh, how very beautiful! cries Zoe, in an ecstasy of delight.
gpt
Edward, did you ever see anything finer?
human
Never! Let us go down this flight of steps and seat ourselves on the next to the lowest. We will then be quite near the waves and yet out of danger of being wet by them.
gpt
I've grown very fond of the sea, she remarked.
human
I shall be sorry to leave it. Will not you?
gpt
Yes and no, he answered, doubtfully.
human
I, too, am fond of old ocean, but eager to get to Ion and begin life in earnest. Isn't it time, seeing I have been a married man for nearly five months? But why that sigh, love?
gpt
O Edward, are you not sorry you are married? Are you not sometimes very much ashamed of me?
human
Ashamed of you, Zoe? Why, darling, you are my heart's best treasure, he said, drawing her closer to his side, and touching his lips to her forehead.
gpt
What has put so absurd an idea into your head?
human
I know so little, so very little compared with your mother and sisters, she sighed.
gpt
I'm finding it out more and more every day, as I hear them talk among themselves and to other people.
human
But you are younger than any of them, a very great deal younger than mamma, and will have time to catch up to them.
gpt
But I'm a married woman and so can't go to school any more. Ah, with another and very heavy sigh,
human
I wish papa hadn't been quite so indulgent, or that I'd had sense enough not to take advantage of it to the neglect of my studies!
gpt
No, I suppose it would hardly do to send you to school, even if I could spare you--which I can't, he returned laughingly,
human
Oh, no, no! I'm sure he can be very stern upon occasion. I've seen it in his eyes when I've made a foolish remark that he didn't approve, and I should be too frightened to learn if he were my teacher.
gpt
Then some one else must be thought of, Edward said, with a look of amusement.
human
How would I answer?
gpt
You? Oh, splendidly!
human
You are not afraid of me?
gpt
No, indeed!
human
And yet I'm the only person who has authority over you.
gpt
Authority, indeed!
human
You promised to obey, you know.
gpt
Did I? Well, maybe so, but that's just a form that doesn't really mean anything. Most any married woman will tell you that.
human
Do you consider the whole of your marriage vow an unmeaning form, Zoe?
gpt
No, no! I was only in jest, she said, dropping her eyes and blushing deeply.
human
But really, Edward, you don't think, do you, that wives are to obey like children?
gpt
No, love, I don't; and I think in a true marriage the two are so entirely one--so unselfishly desirous each to please the other--that there is little or no clashing of wills. Thus far ours has seemed such to me. How is it, do you think, little wife?
human
I hope so, Edward, she said, laying her head on his shoulder,
gpt
I know one thing--that there is nothing in this world I care so much for as to please you and be all and everything to you.
human
And I can echo your words from my very heart, dearest, he said, caressing her.
gpt
I hope you are at home and happy among your new relatives.
human
Yes, indeed, Edward, especially with mamma. She is the dearest, kindest mother in the world; to me as much as to her own children, and oh, so wise and good!
gpt
You are not sorry now that you and I are not to live alone?
human
No, oh, no! I'm ever so glad that she is to keep house at Ion and all of us to live together as one family.
gpt
Except Lester and Elsie, he corrected;
human
What a deserted spot this seems! remarked Zoe,
gpt
glancing up and down the coast as she spoke.
human
Ah, yes! yonder is someone sitting on that piece of wreck.
gpt
It is Lulu Raymond, Edward said, following the direction of her glance.
human
It is late for the child to be out so far from home; a full mile I should say. I'll go and invite her to walk back with us.
gpt
No, you needn't, said Zoe,
human
And we want time to walk leisurely along,
gpt
It is late for you to be here alone, my child, you should have come in an hour ago,
human
What have you there? Evidently something you do not wish your father to see,
gpt
Ah, I don't wonder! as he hurriedly turned over a few pages.
human
A dime novel! Where did you get this, Lulu?
gpt
It's Max's, papa, he lent it to me. O papa, what made you do that? as with an energetic fling the captain suddenly sent it far out into the sea.
human
Max made me promise to take care of it and give it back to him, and besides I wanted to finish the story.
gpt
Neither you nor Max shall ever read such poisonous stuff as that with my knowledge and consent,
human
Papa, I didn't think you'd be so unkind, grumbled Lulu, her face expressing extreme vexation and disappointment,
gpt
Unkind, my child? he said, sitting down beside her and taking her hand in his.
human
Suppose you had gathered a quantity of beautiful, sweet-tasted berries that I knew to be poisonous, and were about to eat them; would it be unkind in me to snatch them out of your hand and throw them into the sea?
gpt
No, sir; because it would kill me to eat them, but that book couldn't kill me, or even make me sick.
human
No, not your body, but it would injure your soul, which is worth far more. I'm afraid I have been too negligent in regard to the mental food of my children, he went on after a slight pause, rather as if thinking aloud than talking to Lulu,
gpt
he added firmly,
human
I wholly forbid dime novels, and you are not to read anything without first obtaining the approval of your father or one of those under whose authority he has placed you.
gpt
Papa, she said,
human
I don't like to obey those people.
gpt
If you are wise, you will try to like what has to be,
human
It wouldn't have to be if you would only say I needn't, papa.
gpt
I shall not say that, Lucilla, he answered with grave displeasure.
human
You need guidance and control even more than most children of your age, and I should not be doing my duty if I left you without them.
gpt
I don't like to obey people that are no relation to me!
human
No, you don't even like to obey your father, he said with a sigh.
gpt
Max and Gracie together do not give me half the anxiety that you do by your wilful temper.
human
Why, can't I do as I please as well as grown people?
gpt
Even grown people have to obey, said her father.
human
I am now expecting orders from the government, and must obey them when they come. I must obey my superior officers, and the officers and men under me must obey me. So must my children. God gave you to me and requires me to train you up in His fear and service to the best of my ability. I should not be doing that if I allowed you to read such hurtful trash as that I just took from you.
gpt
It was Max's, papa, and I promised to give it back. What shall I say when he asks me for it?
human
Tell him to come to me about it.
gpt
Papa----
human
Well, what is it?
gpt
Please, papa, don't punish him. You never told him not to buy or read such things, did you?
human
No; and I think he would not have done so in defiance of a prohibition from me. So I shall not punish him. But I am pleased that you should plead for him. I am very glad that my children all love one another.
gpt
Yes, indeed we do, papa! she said,
human
And we all love you, and you love Max and Gracie very much, and----
gpt
And Lulu also,
human
As much as you do Max and Gracie? she asked brokenly, hiding her face on his shoulder.
gpt
You said just now I was naughtier than both of them put together.
human
Yet you are my own dear child, and it is precisely because I love you so dearly that I am so distressed over your quick temper and wilfulness. I fear that if not conquered they will cause great unhappiness to yourself as well as to your friends. I want you to promise me, daughter, that you will try to conquer them, asking God to help you.
gpt
I will, papa, she said, with unwonted humility;
human
I am sorry, indeed, that I cannot, he said, rising and taking her hand.
gpt
Come, we must go back to the house now.
human
Papa, I do so like to walk this way!
gpt
How do you mean?
human
With my hand in yours, papa. You know I haven't often had the chance.
gpt
No, my poor child, he sighed,
human
Well, said the little girl, lifting his hand to her lips,
gpt
I'd rather have you for my father than anybody else, for all that.
human
By thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.
gpt
I've been to the post-office since the mail came in, papa, he said,
human
I'm not sorry to prolong my stay with wife and children, the captain responded,
gpt
Grandpa Dinsmore has come back from taking Harold and Herbert to college, pursued Max,
human
That is kind,