human
You ain't'fraid, are you, Uncle Robert?
gpt
Oh no,
human
He ain't 'fraid, the boy proclaimed as they came into the presence of Edith Dunmore.
gpt
He can kill a bear.
human
Afraid only of interrupting your pleasure,
gpt
I tremble when I hear you coming, said she, timidly.
human
You are so-- She thought a moment.
gpt
Strange, she added, with a smile. She looked up at him curiously.
human
So very strange to me, sir.
gpt
You are strange to me also, he answered.
human
I have seen no one like you, and I confess to one great fear.
gpt
What fear?
human
That I may not see you again,
gpt
I am afraid of you, sir--I cannot help it.
human
I wish I were less terrible,
gpt
I will not see you again.
human
But--but I love you,
gpt
When I am here I am afraid--when I go away I am sorry. Her voice trembled as she spoke.
human
I have no peace any more. I cannot enjoy books or music. I cannot stay at home. I wander--all day I wander, and the night is long--and I hear the voices of children--like those I have heard here--calling me.
gpt
It is the same with me, only it is your voice that I hear.
human
I think no more of the many things I have to do, but only of one,
gpt
I think only of coming here,
human
I, too, have no more peace,
gpt
I must leave you--I must not speak to you any more,
human
Stay, he pleaded.
gpt
I will be silent--I will say not a word unless you bid me speak--but let me look at you.
human
Do you hear that bird song?
gpt
Yes, it has a merry sound.
human
It is my answer to you,
gpt
Then I am sure you love me.
human
I give you everything--everything but myself,
gpt
And why not yourself?
human
There are those who need me more.
gpt
I offer myself to you and to them also.
human
Tell me what are we to do when those we love die?
gpt
I, too, and all the children of men have that same worry, said he.
human
There's an old Eastern maxim, 'Love as many as you can, so that death may not make you friendless.'
gpt
Will you not say that you love me?
human
I love you--I love you,