human
I have been wondering, she said after a pause,
gpt
Oh, then you _have_ seen?
human
Seen? Why, of course. I have never seen anyone change so in my life. Everybody says she looks so much better for being at the sea, but she does not. That's nothing but sunburn, and she is as thin as a herring and as nervous --she broke off, looking round for a simile--
gpt
Ah! Something in Sir John's voice struck her, and again she looked at him penetratingly.
human
What did your brother say? he went on, meeting her gaze.
gpt
He strikes me as a pretty shrewd fellow.
human
He is--or ought to be--but since he became engaged he seems unable to think of anyone but his blessed Dorothy. He said he thought Grisel looked very well and seemed extremely happy.
gpt
He was very keen on Grisel himself at one time, you know, Oliver was, she added,
human
Do you think Grisel could ever have--come to care for your brother?
gpt
Oh, I am sure I don't know! Rather stupid to talk about it to _you_, anyway. I suppose----
human
I don't see that at all, and I should really rather like to know your opinion, he added slowly,
gpt
After a pause:
human
I mean, what do you think would have happened if _he_ had been the successful one?
gpt
Well, then, Jenny said, weighing her words and obviously striving for the exact expression of her thoughts,
human
I do not think they would have got on very well if--if you had not come along. You see, she explained as she smiled in an encouraging way,
gpt
Oliver is as clever as the Old Nick. He is so silly sometimes, and talks in such an idiotic way that lots of people think he must be a fool, but he isn't; and although he was so in love with Grisel--and you can hardly believe it now, from the way he drivels about Dorothy Perkins--but he was in love with Grisel--there was never any of the 'love is blind' business about him. He always saw right through her.
human
Poor little thing! Barclay murmured with a laugh.
gpt
Anyway, she refused him!
human
Oh, yes; but he used to go for her about things and tease the life out of her. That, of course, was good for Grisel. She gets too much flattery. I do hope, the intelligent little creature went on, so earnestly that there seemed nothing ridiculous in her assumption of equality of knowledge and years with her companion,
gpt
I hope not. So you think that an occasional wigging does her good.
human
Rather! It does us _all_ good. I know _I_ get on a high horse every now and then, and start galloping off, and then Master Oliver cracks his whip, and down we come in the dust, and I know it is good for me.