human
You did not seem much surprised by what I told you, he observed at last.
gpt
I suppose you expected it.
human
Yes. It seemed natural enough, though it is not always the natural things that happen.
gpt
I think they are suited to marry. Of course, Reanda is very much older, but he is comparatively a young man still.
human
Comparatively. He will make a better husband for having had experience, I daresay.
gpt
That depends on what experience he has had. When I first saw him I thought he was in love with Donna Francesca. It would have been like an artist. They are mostly fools. But I was mistaken. He worships at a distance.
human
And she preserves the distance, Griggs remarked.
gpt
You are not drinking fair. My glass is empty.
human
I have been here some time, he observed, half apologetically.
gpt
But as I was saying--or rather, as you were saying--Donna Francesca preserves the distance. These Italians do that admirably. They know the difference between intimacy and familiarity.
human
That is a nice distinction, said Griggs.
gpt
I will use it in my next letter. No. Donna Francesca could never be familiar with any one. They learn it when they are young, I suppose, and it becomes a race-characteristic.
human
What?
gpt
A certain graceful loftiness,
human
A certain graceful loftiness, he repeated slowly.
gpt
Yes, perhaps so. A certain graceful loftiness.
human
You seem struck by the expression,
gpt
I am. Drink, man, drink! added Dalrymple, suddenly, in a different tone.
human
There's no time to be lost if we mean to drink enough to hurt us before those beggars go to bed.
gpt
Never fear. They will be up all night. Not that it is a reason for wasting time, as you say.