human
Then if I have atoned, tell me quickly your news,
gpt
The news is, that I haven't any past which belongs to me--and God knows whether I've a future.
human
Then the worst has happened to you?
gpt
One might call it that.
human
Are you very miserable?
gpt
I don't know. I haven't had time to think.
human
Don't take time--yet. Stay with me, as we planned before--before----
gpt
But Mr. Stanton? Aren't you----
human
No, I'm not. He left me fifteen minutes after you went. I shan't see him again.
gpt
Not at the train?
human
No, not anywhere. You see, he has such important things to do, he hasn't time to bother much with--with a person he still thinks of as a little girl. Why, I told you, he would hardly have known me if I hadn't spoken to him! He's going away to-morrow, leaving for Touggourt. There are all sorts of exciting preparations to make for a tremendous expedition he means to undertake, though it will be months before he can be ready to start. He can think of nothing else just now. Oh, it was only 'How do you do?' and 'Good-bye' between us, I assure you, over there at the little tea-table I'd been keeping for you and me.
gpt
It didn't look like anything so superficial, Max found himself trying once more to console her.
human
I'm sure it must really have meant a lot to him, meeting you. I could see even in the one glance I had, how absorbed he was----
gpt
Yes, in his map! He was pointing out his route to me, after Touggourt. He's chosen Touggourt for his starting-place, because the railway has just been brought as far as there. And there's a man in Touggourt--an old Arab explorer--he wants to persuade to go with him if he's strong enough. He--and some other Arab Richard came to Algiers to see, are the only two men alive, apparently, who firmly believe in the Lost Oasis that Sir Knight means to try to find, when he can get his caravan together, and start across the desert early next autumn after the hot weather.
human
The Lost Oasis? I never heard of it, said Max.
gpt
Is there really such a place somewhere?
human
Richard doesn't know. He only believes in it; and says nearly every one thinks he's insane. But you must have heard--I thought every one had heard the old legend about a Lost Oasis--lost for thousands of years?
gpt
I'm afraid not. I haven't any desert lore.