human
If so, he said after a pause,
gpt
and he looked at her as though he absolutely believed her words,--as though he had not known that her assertion had been mere feminine pretext! She could not endure that he at any rate should not know the sacrifice which she would have to make. But he was very hard to her. He would not even allow her the usual right of defending her sex by falsehood.
human
If so there is an end of it all,
gpt
Good-bye, Captain Clayton,
human
Never again, he said to her very gruffly, but still with such a look across his eyes as irradiated his whole face.
gpt
This hand shall never again be your own to do as you please with it.
human
Who says so?
gpt
I say so, who am its legitimate owner. Now I bid you tell me the truth, or rather I defy you to go on with the lie. Do you not love me?
human
It is a question which I shall not answer.
gpt
Then, said he,
human
I can do nothing with you, Captain Clayton, nor can you with me. I know you are very strong of course.
gpt
I have asked her to be my wife,
human
Let it be so, said Ada.
gpt
I have nothing to say against it.
human
But I have, said Edith.
gpt
I have much to say against it. We can all live without being married, I suppose. Captain Clayton has plenty to do without the trouble of a wife. And so have you and I. Could we leave our father? And have we forgotten so soon poor Florian? This is no time for marriages. Only think, papa would not have the means to get us decent clothes. As far as I am concerned, Captain Clayton, let there be an end of all this.
human
Ada, you are not angry with me,
gpt
Oh, no! How could I be angry?
human
I have not time to do as other men do. I do not know that I ever said a word to her; and yet, God knows, that I have loved her dearly enough. She is hot tempered now, and there are feelings in her heart which fight against me. You will say a word in my favour?
gpt
Indeed, indeed I will.
human
There shall be nothing wrong between you and me. If she becomes my wife, you shall be my dearest sister. And I think she will at last. I know,--I do know that she loves me. Poor Florian is dead and gone. All his short troubles are over. We have still got our lives to lead. And why should we not lead them as may best suit us? She talks about your father's present want of money. I would be proud to marry your sister standing as she is now down in the kitchen. But if I did marry her I should have ample means to keep her as would become your father's daughter.
gpt
The Embankment