human
Alicia, Letty began, almost as soon as she had got inside the door,
gpt
I s'pose you know about poor Patty. It's the common talk. Mrs. Upjohn had no chance to reply.
human
Dick Torrington's taken it upon himself to manage her affairs, and all Patty has is her allowance. But of course you know that. It seems rather a high-handed thing for Dick to do, and he only a little tow-headed shaver when Patty was a grown woman. I suppose he has the right to do it, or else he wouldn't. I'm told that Patty was getting into a terrible mess with her property. She used the checks that were meant for the builder for another purpose, I hear. Poor Mr. Means! And Mary Miller had to wait, too.
gpt
I guess Charlie Ladue could tell something about those checks.
human
Like enough he could, said Miss Lambkin, preparing to go to work.
gpt
Where's your cloth, Alicia? Oh, in your room? Don't you stir. I'll get it. She came back immediately.
human
Well, as I was saying, it's really too bad that Patty's mind is giving way.
gpt
Her mind giving way! echoed Mrs. Upjohn, surprised out of her usual caution.
human
Oh, I guess not. Who told you that, Letty?
gpt
Yes, indeed, said Miss Lambkin with a toss of her head.
human
Didn't you know that she's been sent out to Doctor Sanderson's Home for Incurables? Dick sent her out there nearly a month ago. She's as comfortable there as could be expected. I have it on the best of authority--some one connected with the institution,
gpt
I can't believe it, Letty. You must have been misinformed. In the first place, Doctor Sanderson's place isn't a home for incurables.
human
I know he doesn't call it that. To tell the truth, I can't find out just what he does call it.
gpt
Can't your best of authority tell you that, too?
human
Now, Alicia, said Miss Lambkin with asperity,
gpt
Doctor Sanderson wouldn't thank her for talking so freely, remarked Mrs. Upjohn.
human
I should really like to know what he would say about Patty. I understood that she had simply gone there to board.
gpt
I suppose she can call it that, but I don't believe that Doctor Sanderson is running a boarding-house or a hotel either. I always thought that she was bound for the asylum. And, another thing, I had it from the same authority that Meriwether Beatty goes to see her regularly once or twice a week, and he's real kind, too. I leave it to you whether that isn't a sign that he thinks her mind is growing feeble. He always used to say the most brutal things.
human
I should say it was rather a sign that Doctor Beatty was losing his mind than that Patty was losing hers,
gpt
Well, said Letty with an air of finality,
human
I will,
gpt
Dick Torrington, she observed,
human
Yes,
gpt
I understood, Miss Lambkin resumed,
human
The twenty-eighth,
gpt
Oh, rejoined Miss Lambkin, somewhat taken aback by Mrs. Upjohn's ready replies.
human
And I understood that Henrietta was coming on here to visit right away.
gpt
She came last night,
human
To visit with Sally, I suppose?
gpt
She is the guest of Mrs. Torrington,
human
Dear me, Alicia, Letty exclaimed impatiently,
gpt
Because I snap a person up?
human
Because Henrietta was coming. He seemed to be on his way to the station.
gpt
Possibly. He didn't tell me the reason. But Henrietta didn't come until nearly ten o'clock.
human
Well! The discomfited Letty devoted herself to her work for some minutes in silence. But she could not keep silent long.
gpt
So Dick gave you all that information, I suppose. I wondered how you got it all so pat.
human
No, returned Mrs. Upjohn calmly.
gpt
I haven't seen Dick, to speak to, for a good while.
human
Well, Alicia, she said slowly,
gpt
Better than that, Letty, Mrs. Upjohn replied.
human
I know what happened this morning, about half past seven.
gpt
They ate their breakfast, I suppose, snapped Letty.
human
I could have told you that.
gpt
They didn't have breakfast until eight,
human
Oh, Lord!
gpt
As to my information, Letty, she said as soon as she could speak,
human
I pick it up here and there, and I use my eyes.
gpt
As much as to say that you give a good guess. I thought I was pretty good at picking up information. But you have me beat, Alicia, I'm free to confess.
human
It's rather a pity that Dick didn't choose nearer home, Miss Lambkin resumed, after pausing long enough for the reply which did not come.
gpt
There's Sally, now.
human
They'd have made a good match, Mrs. Upjohn observed, sighing reminiscently,
gpt
Meaning Everett?
human
Not especially.
gpt
I suppose you know, said Miss Lambkin pointedly,
human
There are some cases where you can't even give a good guess, Letty continued maliciously.
gpt
Aren't there, Alicia?