human
What do you think of it?
gpt
Ah!
human
Does it strike you as a serious letter?
gpt
Yes, it's serious.
human
I may easily be mistaken, she said.
gpt
That is why I want to ask your advice. You--you know so much.
human
A little,
gpt
Doesn't he strike you as bold?
human
Who? Caracciolo? For having written that letter?
gpt
Yes.
human
No. People in love are always writing letters. They don't always send them, but they always write them.
gpt
Ah, is that so?
human
He loves you, therefore he writes to you.
gpt
He loves me?
human
Of course.
gpt
Are you sure?
human
Certainly.
gpt
Has he told you so?
human
He has told me so.
gpt
And what did you answer?
human
I? Nothing. He asked me nothing. He merely announced a fact. It's from you that he expects an answer.
gpt
From me?
human
Every letter calls for an answer.
gpt
I shan't answer this one.
human
Why not?
gpt
Because I have nothing to say to him.
human
Don't you love him?
gpt
No.
human
Not even a little? Don't you like him?
gpt
No, I don't love him, I don't even like him.
human
I can't believe it,
gpt
You deceive yourself then,
human
I see that you receive him kindly, that you speak to him politely, that you listen to his compliments, apparently with pleasure. That's a great deal for a young girl to do.
gpt
I have done it to please you--because he is a friend of yours,
human
Thank you,
gpt
So, he began presently,
human
No. Never.
gpt
He's a splendid fellow, though. He has a noble name, a handsome fortune. And he loves you.
human
I don't love him, and I won't marry him.
gpt
Love isn't necessary in marriage,
human
Not for others, perhaps. For me it is necessary,
gpt
You know nothing about life, my dear. A marriage for love and a marriage for convenience are equally likely to turn out happily or unhappily. And of what use is passion? Of none.
human
If you don't care for Luigi Caracciolo, you ought to try not to see him.
gpt
I will avoid him.
human
But he will seek you.
gpt
I'll stay in the house.
human
He'll write to you.
gpt
I have already said I won't answer him.
human
He will persevere; I know him. The prize at stake is important. He will persevere.
gpt
You will tell him that the marriage is impossible.
human
Ah, no, my dear. I shan't be the bearer of any such ungracious message.
gpt
Aren't you--aren't you my guardian?
human
Yes, I am your guardian. But I heartily wish Francesco Acquaviva had not chosen me. Frankly, I would prefer to be nothing to you.
gpt
Am I--so bad?
human
I don't know whether you are good or bad. I don't waste my time trying to make such distinctions. I only know that he's a fine young fellow, handsome and rich, who loves you, and that you, without a single earthly reason, refuse him. I know that he is anxious to marry you, in spite of the fact that you don't care for him, in spite of--pass me the word--in spite of the extravagance of your character. Excuse me, dear Anna, but I want to ask you whether you think it will be easy to find another husband?
gpt
How can I tell?
human
I ask, do you think another will be likely to ask you for your hand?
gpt
Excuse me. I don't understand,
human
My dear, have you forgotten the past?
gpt
What past?
human
Nothing but a flight from home, my dear. A day passed at Pompeii with a young man. Nothing else.
gpt
Oh, heavens!
human
Don't cry out, Anna. This is a serious moment. You must control yourself. Remember that what you did respectable girls don't do. Luigi Caracciolo knows nothing about it, or nothing definite. But a man who did know about it, wouldn't marry you, my dear. It's hard; it's cruel; but it's my duty to tell it to you. Marry him; marry Luigi. That is the advice of a friend, of a true friend, Anna. Marry Luigi Caracciolo.
gpt
I committed a great fault, she said, in a dull voice,
human
Yes, yes. But husbands--but young men about to marry, don't pardon such faults. With what jealous care I have kept that secret! I have guarded it as if I were your father. And now you let a chance like this slip away! Not realising that such a chance may never come again! But another man, an equal of Caracciolo, where is he to be found?
gpt
It is true that I committed a great fault, she said, returning always to the same idea;
human
I am the only person who knows that.
gpt
It is enough for me that you know it.
human
Anna, Anna, you're a foolish child; that's what you are. You fall in love with a penniless nobody, you escape from your home, you risk your honour, and you are saved by a miracle. Afterwards, you are ill, you get well, you forget the young beggar; and then when a fine fellow like Caracciolo falls in love with you, you refuse him. You're mad, Anna. Marry Luigi Caracciolo. I beg you to marry him.
gpt
You can't ask me that,
human
Love is a fancy. Marry Caracciolo.
gpt
I can't.
human
But why not? It's not a sufficient reason to say that you don't love him.
gpt
Look for another reason, then,
human
I'll find it.
gpt
You are in love with some one else, I suppose?
human
Why don't you answer? You've fallen in love again, have you not?
gpt
Again? What do you mean?
human
I mean that to explain your refusal of Luigi Caracciolo, you must be in love with some other man. You little girls believe that passion is everlasting. You believe in faithfulness that lasts, if not beyond the grave, at least up to its brink. Are you still in love with Giustino Morelli?
gpt
Oh, don't insult me like that,
human
Calm yourself,
gpt
For pity's sake, don't think that of me, she besought him;
human
Say anything that I deserve, but not that, not that.
gpt
Calm yourself, repeated Dias.
human
We will speak of this another day.
gpt
Listen, listen, she cried.
human
Don't go away yet. Forgive me, first, for having interfered with one of your plans. But marry Luigi Caracciolo--I can't, indeed I can't. I never can. You smile at my word _never_. You are right, the human heart is such a fickle thing. Forgive me. But you will see that I am not wrong. You will never never have any more trouble with me. I will be so obedient, so meek. I will do everything you wish. Compared to you I am such a little, poor, worthless thing.