human
Lo! how poor Claribelle hath been chastened by sorrow!
gpt
Poor, _poor_ Claribelle! I _am_ sorry for her!
human
She had, indeed, a severe lesson,
gpt
And did the Wagoner ever come back?
human
Never, never. He loved, but drove away.
gpt
How sad!
human
Sad, indeed, said the Marionette.
gpt
Well, as I always say, let all young ladies take warning by the story of Proud Claribelle, and then it will not have been told in vain.
human
Next time you tell me a story I should like it to be happy all through. Happy, you know, from beginning to end.
gpt
I can't remember such a story, she said.
human
I think there must be very few.
gpt
I am sorry for that, answered the little girl, disappointed.
human
I wanted very much to hear one.
gpt
We must take things as they are, said the little lady cheerfully.
human
If I don't know many stories that are happy all the way through, I know plenty that are so at the beginning, or the middle, or the end; or even more than that.
gpt
Which do you like best?
human
Oh, stories with a happy ending! You can forget that the beginning or middle has been sad, and you can go away smiling.
gpt
Then tell me to-morrow a story that ends happily.
human
If you will,
gpt
Good evening. I have thought of a story that will please you.
human
Then I suppose it ends most happily, doesn't it?
gpt
Quite right, she replied.
human
I am going to tell you one that ends as happily as you could wish it to. You will, I am sure, be quite satisfied with the conclusion of: 'The Grocer and the Farthing Doll.'