human
You are wiser than I am, Miss Strange,
gpt
What do you mean?
human
You take what you can get.
gpt
You mean that I go to Mr. Pryor's entertainments, and hear 'Simon the----'
human
Cyrenian! Yes, and see Joppa in a magic lantern. That is very wise when the real Joppa is out of reach.
gpt
I don't know, said Barbara hesitatingly,
human
Nor I, said Harding,
gpt
He repeated it slowly as if the words pleased him.
human
And where do you really want to go?
gpt
To Paris, said Barbara, with a world of longing in the word.
human
To Paris, and then to Italy. And then--oh, anywhere! But to Paris first.
gpt
Paris! Harding seemed to be recording her choice.
human
Well, that sounds possible enough. Surely you may count on Paris one of these days, Miss Strange; and meanwhile you can have a look at it with the help of the magic lantern.
gpt
Not Mr. Pryor's.
human
Oh no, not Mr. Pryor's. I shouldn't fancy there were any Parisian slides in his. But I suspect you have a magic lantern of your own which shows it to you whenever you please.
gpt
Pretty often,
human
I like to turn the pages for myself, please. Suppose he should be hurt or vexed? She was learning to look upon him as a kind of thundercloud, out of which, without a moment's warning, came flashes of passion, of feeling, of resolution, of fury, of scorn. She did not know what drew them down. So she accepted his attentions, and smiled her gratitude. If only (
gpt
Yes, please! in answer to an inquiring glance)--if only he would always be too soon, or always a little too late! Instead of which he arrived at a tolerable average by virtue of the variety of his failures. Worst of all was a terrible moment of uncertainty, when, having turned too soon, he thought of turning back.
human
No, no!
gpt
I'm very stupid, said Harding,
human
I'm afraid I put you out.
gpt
No, no, again from Barbara, while her busy fingers worked unceasingly.
human
Couldn't you give me just a little nod when it's time?