human
Exactly, said Mrs. Pett, delighted at the suggestion.
gpt
The very thing.
human
Will you write and suggest it?
gpt
What would be the use of writing? Eugenia would pay no attention. Besides, I could not say all I wished to in a letter. No, the only thing is to go over to England and see her. I shall speak very plainly to her. I shall point out what an advantage it will be to the boy to be in your office and to live here. . . .
human
You don't mean live here--in this house?
gpt
Of course. There would be no sense in bringing the boy all the way over from England if he was to be allowed to run loose when he got here.
human
I don't think that would be very pleasant for Ann, dear.
gpt
Why in the name of goodness should Ann object?
human
Thank you for thinking of it, uncle Peter. You're always a dear. But don't worry about me. Do just as you want to. In any case I'm quite certain that you won't be able to get him to come over here. You can see by the paper he's having far too good a time in London. You can call Jimmy Crockers from the vasty deep, but will they come when you call for them?
gpt
What do you mean, Peter, about Ann? Why wouldn't it be pleasant for her if this Crocker boy came to live with us?
human
Well, it's like this, Nesta. I hope you won't tell her I told you. She's sensitive about it, poor girl. It all happened before you and I were married. Ann was much younger then. You know what schoolgirls are, kind of foolish and sentimental. It was my fault really, I ought to have . . .
gpt
Good Heavens, Peter! What are you trying to tell me?
human
She was only a child.
gpt
Peter! Tell me! Don't try to break it gently.
human
Ann wrote a book of poetry and I had it published for her.
gpt
Oh! she said--it would have been hard to say whether with relief or disappointment.
human
Whatever did you make such a fuss for? Why did you want to be so mysterious?
gpt
It was all my fault, really, proceeded Mr. Pett.
human
I ought to have known better. All I thought of at the time was that it would please the child to see the poems in print and be able to give the book to her friends. She did give it to her friends, he went on ruefully,
gpt
But, in the name of goodness, what has all this to do with young Crocker?
human
Why, it was this way. Most of the papers just gave Ann's book a mention among 'Volumes Received,' or a couple of lines that didn't amount to anything, but the _Chronicle_ saw a Sunday feature in it, as Ann was going about a lot then and was a well-known society girl. They sent this Crocker boy to get an interview from her, all about her methods of work and inspirations and what not. We never suspected it wasn't the straight goods. Why, that very evening I mailed an order for a hundred copies to be sent to me when the thing appeared. And-- pinkness came upon Mr. Pett at the recollection
gpt
Utterly ridiculous! said Mrs. Pett.
human
I certainly do not intend to alter my plans because of a trivial incident that happened years ago. We will sail on Wednesday.
gpt
Very well, my dear,
human
Just as you say. Er--just you and I?
gpt
And Ogden, of course.
human
I wouldn't dream of leaving him here while I went away, after what happened when poor dear Elmer sent him to school in England that time. The late Mr. Ford had spent most of his married life either quarrelling with or separated from his wife, but since death he had been canonised as 'poor dear Elmer.'
gpt
Besides, the sea voyage will do the poor darling good. He has not been looking at all well lately.
human
If Ogden's coming, I'd like to take Ann.
gpt
Why?
human
She can--
gpt
Keep in order was the expression he wished to avoid. To his mind Ann was the only known antidote for Ogden, but he felt it would be impolitic to say so.
human
he concluded.
gpt
You know you are a bad sailor.
human
Very well. Bring Ann--Oh, Peter, that reminds me of what I wanted to say to you, which this dreadful thing in the paper drove completely out of my mind. Lord Wisbeach has asked Ann to marry him!
gpt
She didn't tell me.
human
She didn't tell me, either. Lord Wisbeach told me. He said Ann had promised to think it over, and give him his answer later. Meanwhile, he had come to me to assure himself that I approved. I thought that so charming of him.
gpt
She hasn't accepted him?
human
Not definitely.
gpt
I hope she doesn't.
human
Don't be foolish, Peter. It would be an excellent match.
gpt
I don't like him. There's something too darned smooth about that fellow.
human
If you mean that his manners are perfect, I agree with you. I shall do all in my power to induce Ann to accept him.
gpt
I shouldn't, said Mr. Pett, with more decision than was his wont.
human
You know what Ann is if you try to force her to do anything. She gets her ears back and won't budge. Her father is just the same. When we were boys together, sometimes--
gpt
Don't be absurd, Peter. As if I should dream of trying to force Ann to do anything.
human
We don't know anything of this fellow. Two weeks ago we didn't know he was on the earth.
gpt
What do we need to know beyond his name?