human
I interrupt you, gentlemen,
gpt
On the contrary, I am sure, my dear lady, said Doctor Ward,
human
Senator Calhoun told me he wished you to meet Señora Yturrio.
gpt
Yes, resumed Calhoun,
human
I was just speaking with this lady over some matters concerned with this Little slipper. He smiled as he held it up gingerly between thumb and finger.
gpt
Do you recognize it, Madam Baroness?
human
Ah, my little shoe! she exclaimed.
gpt
But see, it has not been well cared for.
human
It traveled in my war bag from Oregon to Washington, said I.
gpt
Perhaps bullet molds and powder flasks may have damaged it.
human
It still would serve as a little post-office, perhaps, laughed the baroness.
gpt
But I think its days are done on such errands.
human
I will explain something of these errands to the Señora Yturrio, said Calhoun.
gpt
I wish you personally to say to that lady, if you will, that Señor Yturrio regarded this little receptacle rather as official than personal post.
human
It is not wholly my fault, Señora Yturrio, if your husband gave you cause to think there was more than diplomacy between us. At least, I can say to you that it was the sport of it alone, the intrigue, if you please, which interested me. I trust you will not accuse me beyond this.
gpt
said she.
human
I go!
gpt
I ought not to remain,
human
Madam, said Mr. Calhoun,
gpt
It is a young country, said she,
human
Eh, what? said Doctor Ward, turning to her.
gpt
My dear lady, two of us are too old for that; and as for the other--
human
You are men, said she,
gpt
Madam, said Calhoun,
human
I myself am a very poor sort of man. I am old, and I fail from month to month. I can not live long, at best. What you see in me is simply a purpose--a purpose to accomplish something for my country--a purpose which my country itself does not desire to see fulfilled. Republics do not reward us. What _you_ say shall be our chief reward. I have asked you here also to accept the thanks of all of us who know the intricacies of the events which have gone forward. Madam, we owe you Texas! 'Twas not yonder lady, but yourself, who first advised of the danger that threatened us. Hers was, after all, a simpler task than yours, because she only matched faiths with Van Zandt, representative of Texas, who had faith in neither men, women nor nations. Had all gone well, we might perhaps have owed you yet more, for Oregon.
gpt
Would you like Oregon?
human
More than my life! More than the life of myself and all my friends and family! More than all my fortune!
gpt
All of Oregon?
human
All? We do not own all! Perhaps we do not deserve it. Surely we could not expect it. Why, if we got one-half of what that fellow Polk is claiming, we should do well enough--that is more than we deserve or could expect. With our army already at war on the Southwest, England, as we all know, is planning to take advantage of our helplessness in Oregon.
gpt
I am but a woman, she said,
human
Yes, said Helena von Ritz slowly.
gpt
It is Oregon. It is bought and paid for. It is yours!