human
Miss Marshall, wouldn't it be a good idea if your nephew and I discussed this matter up-stairs?
gpt
I think perhaps he doesn't fully understand the idea, continued Mary, hastily.
human
Perhaps there are some features of it that can be--modified. I'd like to have a chance to explain it to him more fully.
gpt
Very well, she said.
human
But you needn't go up-stairs to discuss it, my dear. You can discuss it right here; that is, if you are able to talk to him at all, which I am not.
gpt
Well?
human
You nearly spoiled everything, she said.
gpt
Oh, please--please can't you be more reasonable, Mr. Marshall?
human
Reasonable! Do you call that stuff reason?
gpt
I haven't called it anything. But don't you see that it only makes these things worse to quarrel about them?
human
You don't even want to give me a chance to defend myself, accused Bill.
gpt
You tried to shut me up.
human
I was trying to warn you to be more diplomatic.
gpt
What's the sense of being diplomatic when somebody sticks you up with a gun? That's what it was; it was a stick-up.
human
I don't think you handled it in the right way at all, she said, firmly.
gpt
You didn't accomplish anything, except to offend your aunt.
human
Well, I'm not going to stand for it, anyhow. So what was the use of pussy footing? You're all against me--the whole three of you.
gpt
Whose secretary am I?
human
Why--mine. That is, you're supposed to be.
gpt
Well, am I or am I not?
human
Of, if it comes to that, you are.
gpt
Very well. Then whose interests do I look after?
human
You're supposed to look after mine, I should say.
gpt
I'm not only supposed to, but I do, declared Mary.
human
And I don't think that thus far you have any good reason to doubt it. I don't think it's fair for you to doubt it.
gpt
I'm not doubting it,
human
All right, then, said Mary.
gpt
As your secretary I am looking after your interests first of all in this matter.
human
But you've got a wrong idea of my interests, Miss Norcross. They've got you in on this scheme and----
gpt
Who said I was in on it?
human
But aren't you?
gpt
I am not.
human
But you're in favor of it, anyhow.
gpt
I am not.
human
You're against it? On the level?
gpt
On the level,
human
Then why in blazes didn't you say so?
gpt
Because it wasn't the time or the place to say so, Mr. Marshall.
human
Does my Aunt Caroline know you're against it?
gpt
I think not. We merely discussed it. I didn't express any opinion.
human
Gee! he exclaimed.
gpt
I'm glad they haven't got you hooked up on it. But you certainly had me guessing for a while.
human
You stick by me and I'll stick by you, he said, walking back to the table.
gpt
We'll put rollers under Aunt Caroline yet.
human
Oh, no, Mr. Marshall. Remember, you promised to make a beginning.
gpt
Well, we'll put that valet on skids, anyhow.
human
He has a certain ingenuity,
gpt
What?
human
I think so. And when you come to think of it, there are really possibilities in his idea.
gpt
Oh, glory! And you just told me you were against it.
human
I am--in your case, said Mary.
gpt
But that doesn't condemn the idea. It simply means it might not work in a particular instance.
human
I take it you couldn't quite see me breaking in from the religious angle.
gpt
Not quite,