human
What is the matter, Agnes!
gpt
O, nothing Ruth; please wait until I breathe; and she tried to get up a laugh.
human
I did not know I was so out of breath. If you wait a minute, I will explain,
gpt
There now, she said, removing her hat, and leaning back in the rocking chair,
human
I am ready to put your fears to rest.
gpt
See here, Agnes, it is all very well to sympathize with people in distress, when you don't have to sacrifice yourself; but you are not called upon to do more than you are able to perform. And it is quite enough for you to teach school, without running to see all the youngsters whose fathers get tipsy and break their legs,
human
What do you charge for advice, Mr. Lawyer? she asked, laughingly, as springing up she advanced to the table and begged Ruth to hurry with the tea, for she was
gpt
Well, and then?
human
Why----then go to grass.
gpt
Little boys should not use slang,
human
Neither should little girls act contrary to the wishes of their big brother,
gpt
Do you really think I am self-willed, Guy?
human
Of course I do; it does not require a knowledge of law to decide that.
gpt
How do I show it? I never meant to be so.
human
Well, you succeed pretty well if you don't. I should not like to see you make the effort, if that is the case. How do you show it? Why, by thinking you know better than other people. Don't she, Ruth, and acting out her thoughts?
gpt
You are partly right and partly wrong, was the reply.
human
Agnes is not in the least self-willed. It is I who may be called that. In this you are wrong. You are right in saying she acts out her thoughts; but you give a wrong reason. It is not because she thinks she knows better than others. She does not trust her own judgment nearly as much as either you or I.
gpt
Now don't you begin to be mysterious, Ruth, if she don't, whose does she trust?
human
The Lord's.
gpt
Oh! and Guy had no more to say. Agnes could have embraced her sister then. She wanted to say something to Guy about Ruth, because she knew her better than even he or any one could know her. But he was so silent now, perhaps this was not the best time. Guy ate a little, Agnes thought, and she did not feel so hungry after all; so when Ruth had finished she said:
human
Let me wash the tea things myself to night, Ruth, I have not been doing anything all day. I will be ready in time for church.