human
If y--you h--have n--noth--th--thing more t--to ask me, S--Sally--
gpt
Horry, she said, interrupting him,
human
Y--yes, he replied, blushing furiously again, but not avoiding her eyes.
gpt
I've b--b--been th--there.
human
Oh, Horry! And aren't you ashamed?
gpt
N--n--not es--s--specially. O--only w--w--went once, t--to l--l--look on, you know. Th--thought I'd l--like to s--see the p--p--place once. I didn't p--play. Horry shook his head.
human
I h--haven't g--g--got the b--bug. Kn--n--new I w--was safe.
gpt
The bug? Do you mean--
human
The f--f--fever, Sally, he answered, laughing at her bewilderment;
gpt
I suppose it is like that. It must be. She looked at him thoughtfully for so long a time that Horry began to get red once more and to fidget on his chair.
human
There must be a cure for it if we could only find it, she murmured.
gpt
Horry, she said suddenly,
human
Kn--n--now he w--would.
gpt
And would he telegraph me when Charlie goes into that place again--and just as soon as he can find out? I ought to know as early in the evening as possible--by six or seven o'clock.
human
H--he w--will if he c--c--can f--f--find out in t--t--time. W--w--wouldn't always b--be s--so easy. I'll t--take c--care of that, Sally.
gpt
Thank you. I shall be very grateful to you both.
human
How is Patty, Fox?
gpt
So that is what you came for, he replied.
human
I hoped it might have had something to do with me. He sighed.
gpt
Patty's all right, I think. Are you going up to see her?
human
I came to see you, Fox. I want to ask your advice.
gpt
That changes the face of nature, he returned cheerfully.
human
Will you come into the office--or anywhere else that you like.
gpt
That's the most generally comfortable chair. It's my consultation chair. I want my patients to be as comfortable as possible before they begin.
human
Now, you sit down and put on your professional expression.
gpt
It is not difficult to look sympathetic with you, in advance, Sally.
human
It is really a serious matter. She was silent for a moment.
gpt
Fox, she said then abruptly,
human
Charlie has been gambling.
gpt
Yes.
human
You aren't surprised?
gpt
No.
human
And he has used Patty's money, I don't doubt.
gpt
Yes.
human
she cried impatiently.
gpt
Did you know all this before? If you did, I think you might have told me.
human
No, he replied gently,
gpt
I did not know it. I only suspected it. You had as much reason to suspect it as I had.
human
I didn't know all the circumstances--about Patty's money, for instance. I'm afraid she gave it to him. I don't know how much.
gpt
Neither do I.
human
I must find out and pay her. She was silent again, leaning her chin on her hand and gazing at Fox.
gpt
How can I find out, Fox?
human
I hardly know, Sally. He was silent, in his turn.
gpt
It's no use to ask her, I suppose. You might ask Dick how much was--er--unaccounted for.
human
I might. She nodded with satisfaction.
gpt
I will. I shall pay it back. And I must stop Charlie's gambling. I've got to. I've thought and thought--for a whole day. She laughed shortly.
human
I'm no nearer than I was in half an hour. Oh, Fox, tell me how.
gpt
It's a problem, Sally. I'm afraid you may not be able to stop it altogether--or permanently.
human
I thought it might do if--but, perhaps I'd better not tell anybody about it until it's done.
gpt
I commend that idea, in general, Fox replied, smiling,
human
I have no idea of trying to get in. And, Fox, how much do you know of those places, as you call them?
gpt
Not much, but I think I could probably get in.
human
Thank you, Fox. There is one thing that you can do and that is to explain to me why Charlie does it. Or, I suppose I know why he does, but explain this if you can. Why haven't I the same desire? I am my father's daughter. Why shouldn't I want to gamble, too, instead of the very idea of it filling me with disgust?
gpt
Please tell me, Fox,
human
A question of heredity, Sally! Heredity is a subject which I know very little about. Nobody really knows much about it, for that matter. A few experiments with peas and guinea-pigs, and, on the other hand, a great deal of theorizing--which means a man's ideas of what ought to happen, made to fit; or rather, the cases chosen to fit the ideas. And neither helps us much when we come to apply them to such a case as Charlie's. But do you really want me to tell you what I think? I'm no authority and the whole thing is a matter of guesswork. You might guess as well as I--or better.
gpt
I should like, very much, to know.
human
Ah, so should I, he said.
gpt
If I only _knew_! I don't. But I will do my best. Well, then, your father had rather a strong character--
human
Oh, Fox!
gpt
He did, he insisted.
human
Even you had to give in to him sometimes, and you are the only one in your family who ever stood up against him--who ever could have. He was lacking in the sense of right, and he had depraved tastes, perhaps, but his tastes grew by indulgence. Your mother--forgive me, Sally--has not as strong a character, in a way, but her sense of right is strong. Perhaps her traditions are as strong. There were some things which Fox did not know. If he had known all that had passed in Mrs. Ladue's heart he might not have spoken so confidently.
gpt
You have your mother's tastes,--irreproachable,--her sense of right and your father's strength; a very excellent combination. He laughed gently.
human
And both strengthened by your early experience. A fiery furnace, he murmured,
gpt
Go on,
human
Charlie got your father's tastes and your mother's lack of strength. He seems to have no sense of right. He was most unfortunate. He didn't get a square deal. But his very weakness gives me hope. He will have to be watched, for he may break away at any time. There was no leading your father, even in the way he wanted to go. He had to be under strong compulsion--driven.
gpt
Did you ever drive him, Fox?
human
Once, he answered briefly.
gpt
It was no fun.
human
I remember the time. She sighed and rose slowly.
gpt
Well--
human
Had enough of my preaching, Sally? I don't do it often and I don't wonder you don't like it.
gpt
I'm greatly obliged to you, Fox. If you can help me I will ask you to. I promise you that.