human
How did you expect to find your aunt, he asked,
gpt
I knew of a musical journal published there which I believed kept track of people who sang. I went to that office. The last they knew of my aunt she was booked to sing at a concert in Washington, Ida said sadly.
human
The date was the very day I called at the office. I hurried to buy a ticket to Washington. But the distance was so great that when my train got into Washington the concert was over and I could do nothing more until the next day.
gpt
And then?
human
She had gone again. All the company had gone and I could find nobody who knew anything about her. I--I didn't have much money left, confessed the girl.
gpt
And things do cost so much here in your country. I was frightened. I walked about to find a cheap lodging and reached that street in Georgetown where Mrs. Staples has her shop.
human
I see,
gpt
So I asked Mrs. Staples. She was English too, and she offered me lodgings and a chance to serve in her shop. I took it. What else could I do?
human
You are a plucky girl, I must say. Don't you think so. Betty?
gpt
I think she is quite wonderful! cried his niece.
human
And think of her making those blouses so beautifully! You know, Ida, Bobby bought the blue one of Mrs. Staples.
gpt
I am glad, if you like them, said the other girl, blushing faintly.
human
I had hard work to persuade Mrs. Staples to pay for that one on the chance of your coming back for it.
gpt
Well, interposed Uncle Dick,
human
Yes, Mr. Gordon, said Ida.
gpt
I read it in the paper. But the notice must have referred to my dear little mare. I never dreamed she had been sent over here. I never dreamed of it!
human
No?
gpt
Of course I didn't! And when I got to Cliffdale there was nobody who had ever heard of my aunt. There are two hotels. One of them is closed at this time of year. At the other there was no such guest.
human
Dear me! How disappointed you must have felt,
gpt
You can't imagine! But in talking with the clerk at the hotel I got news of my little darling.
human
Meaning the mare, of course?
gpt
Yes. She had arrived the night before and had been taken directly to Candace Farm. The clerk told me how to get there. I did not feel that I could afford to hire anybody to take me there. And I knew nobody. So I set out to walk day before yesterday morning.
human
Before it began to snow?
gpt
Yes, Miss Gordon.
human
Oh, please, cried Betty,
gpt
she added.
human
With a strange boy it would be different.
gpt
It was cloudy but I did not know anything about such storms as you have here. Oh, dear me, how it snowed and blew! I got to that little house and I could open the door. If I had had to go many yards farther I would have fallen down and been covered by the snow.
human
You poor dear!