human
I have been reflecting, she said,
gpt
How, dearest Matilda! what mean you?
human
Can you ask, Gerald? and her voice assumed a tone of melancholy reproach--
gpt
Nay, Matilda, that coldness arose not from any change in my feelings towards yourself--I was piqued, disappointed, even angry, at the extraordinary escape of my prisoner, and could not sufficiently play the hypocrite to disguise my annoyance.
human
Yet, what had I to do with the man's escape, that his offence should be visited upon me?
gpt
Can you not find some excuse for my vexation, knowing, as you do that the wretch was a vile assassin--a man whose hands have been imbrued in the blood of my own father?
human
Was he not acquitted of the charge?
gpt
He was--but only from lack of evidence to convict; yet, although acquitted by the law, not surer is fate than that he is an assassin.
human
You hold assassins in great horror, remarked the American, thoughtfully--
gpt
In horror, said, you?--aye, in such loathing, that language can supply no term to express it.
human
And yet, you once attempted an assassination yourself. Nay, do not start, and look the image of astonishment. Have you not told me that you fired into the hut, on the night of your mysterious adventure? What right had you, if we argue the question on its real merit, to attempt the life of a being who had never injured you?
gpt
And is it thus you interpret my conduct, Matilda? -- the voice of Gerald spoke bitter reproach--
human
Nay, I did not say I blamed you, she returned, gaily--
gpt
And pray how do you make this good?
human
Suppose for instance, the slumberer you preserved had been a being of crime, through whom the hopes, the happiness, the peace of mind, and above all, the fair fame of the other been cruelly and irrevocably blasted. Let us imagine that he had destroyed some dear friend or relative of him with whose vengeance you beheld him threatened.
gpt
Could that be--.
human
Or, interrupted the American, in the same careless tone
gpt
Such a man--
human
Or, what is worse, infinitely worse, sought to put the finishing stroke to his villainy, by affixing to the name and conduct of his victim every ignominy and disgrace which can attach to insulted humanity.
gpt
Matilda, eagerly exclaimed the youth, advancing close to her, and gazing into her dark eyes;
human
No Gerald, she replied calmly,
gpt
I am merely supposing a case. Could you find no excuse for a man acting under a sense of so much injury?--would you still call him an assassin, if, with such provocation, he sought to destroy the hated life of one who had thus injured him?
human
Tell me, dearest Gerald, and her fair and beautiful hand caught and pressed his--
gpt
Assassin!--most undoubtedly I would. But why this question, Matilda?
human
I find, then, my philosophy is totally at fault.
gpt
Wherein, Matilda?
human
In this, that I have not been able to make you a convert to my opinions.
gpt
And these are--?
human
Not to pronounce too harshly on the conduct of others, seeing that we ourselves may stand in much need of lenity of judgment. There might have existed motives for the action of him whom you designate as an assassin, quite as powerful as those which led to YOUR interference, and quite as easily justified to himself.
gpt
But, dearest Matilda--
human
Nay, I have done--I close at once my argument and my philosophy. The humour is past, and I shall no longer attempt to make the worse appear the better cause. I dare say you thought me in earnest, she added, with slight sarcasm,
gpt
For ever, did you say, Matilda?--no, not for ever; yet, how coldly do you allude to a separation, which, although I trust it will be only temporary, is to me a source of the deepest vexation. You did not manifest this indifference in the early part of our conversation this evening.
human
And if there be a change, emphatically yet tenderly returned the beautiful American;