human
You're quite right, and Mother'd be the first person to tell you so, said Emily in instant approval.
gpt
I'll see what I can do. You know-- she hesitated--
human
I understand,
gpt
My dear, I hope you do--This is such a small puddle that the big frogs in it take themselves rather seriously. And it's changing lately. It used to be that in the South money or the lack of it meant almost nothing at all. Now it means a great deal--more, I fancy, than in places where there's more of it. It doesn't seem to take even one generation to make a gentleman nowadays--or what passes for a gentleman. And so the old guard feel that they have to be especially wary, to make a decided stand, in order to retain their own identity. They're horribly afraid of being--not exterminated exactly, but--
human
Mixed? suggested Joan.
gpt
I remember you called me 'mixed' the first time you deigned to notice me.
human
Not the first time--the second, laughed Emily, blushing.
gpt
The first time was on the train, and you had flowers and a box of candy, and I hadn't.--The second time you were such a haughty little minx, with your Eastern airs and your lovely clothes, and so utterly unaware of my provincial existence, that I simply _had_ to snub you somehow!
human
Well! gasped Joan.
gpt
That is exactly the way I felt about you!
human
And there we were bristling our hackles at each other like two strange puppy dogs, each waiting for the other to wag a tail. Anyway, I wagged first! cried Emily, kissing her friend.
gpt
And I'm not going to lose you now, simply because my family hasn't been polite to your family.
human
You couldn't!