human
By Jove! cried Frank.
gpt
Wait till I see him!
human
So you've been sitting around, thinking, have you?
gpt
Sure thing, thinking what I'd do next. I say, Frank, she's a pippin. Billie's an awful bore, but his kid sister is a peach, believe me!
human
I thought you were an out-and-out woman-hater.
gpt
I used to be in my younger days, said the Codfish, earnestly,
human
So, that's why you've been neglecting your poor roommate, is it? I thought you came over here to see that I had good attention and kept in training. I might be at almost anything, even enjoying a pipe in the smoking room with John Hasbrouck as far as you are concerned.
gpt
I guess you will be all right looking after yourself. Now in Marjorie's case-- he had reached the point already of calling her
human
Marjorie, and he lingered a little over the name--
gpt
And you are furnishing the arm?
human
Precisely.
gpt
And how about her father and mother and even her brother? They have no protecting arms, I suppose?
human
Frank, they don't understand her. She seems quite alone. This is in confidence, Frank,--she's going to go on the stage as soon as she's through school. She'd make a hit, I tell you! She has great ambition, that girl has!
gpt
And what does her mother say about the stage?
human
O, just laughs at her, has no conception of the depths of that girl's nature. I doped her out for myself soon as I saw her. Frank, old chap, I love her!
gpt
All right, go ahead and laugh, but I tell you this is serious. Say, Frank, you wouldn't mind if I went on to Paris with the Hasbroucks, would you? You won't need me for anything. I'll get back to London for the meet maybe.
human
You'll get lost snooping around Paris all by yourself,
gpt
O, but I'll not be alone. I'll travel with the Hasbroucks. My heart tells me to go.
human
Very well then, said Frank.
gpt
If you have such an unreliable heart, there's nothing for it but to go I suppose. You may change your mind or your heart before we dock.
human
Never! said the Codfish.
gpt
This is a deep and lasting feeling I have. It has changed the whole course of my life. I came onto this boat a mere boy, now I feel I'm a man with all the responsibilities of a man.
human
That friend of mine, Gleason, has a love attack and tells me he is going to desert and go on to Paris with the fair charmer. How are we going to head him off?
gpt
Win his girl away from him,
human
But he doesn't give anyone a chance, said Frank, laughing.
gpt
He sticks around from morning till night. He certainly has a terrible case.
human
Get him up on the boat-deck for a game of shuffleboard, suggested McGregor,
gpt
Great, said Frank.
human
Let's try.