human
For which, he snarled out,
gpt
If there is nothing further, he choked out,
human
No, retorted Parkman serenely,
gpt
It is; but as I am accustomed to meeting men of some--
human
Manners? supplied the doctor pleasantly.
gpt
As I am accustomed to men of a somewhat different type, --he picked the phrase punctiliously, manifestly a conservative, even in war--
human
I was naturally unprepared for the nature of your remarks.
gpt
Oh well, the unexpected must be rather agreeable when one leads so cut and dried a life. But what I want to see you about, he went on, quite as though he had dropped the most pleasant thing in the world,
human
Really, now, gasped the head of the department, after a minute of speechless staring,
gpt
--
human
That's the truth, if he ever spoke it, thought the doctor grimly.
gpt
--and he of erudition was equal to a covert sneer--
human
She has everything to do with it. In the first place, she is rather interested in Dr. Hubers. Then she's a remarkable woman. Needs to freshen up on some things, needs quite a little coaching, in fact; but in my judgment the best way for Hubers to go on with his work--you didn't think for a moment he was out of it, did you?--is for his wife to get in shape to work with him. That can be arranged all right?
gpt
It certainly can not,
human
But why not?
gpt
Oh, now, don't misunderstand me, Professor. I didn't for a minute expect that you were to give any of your valuable time to Mrs. Hubers. Hastings is the fellow I'd like her turned over to. He's a friend of mine, and he's in sympathy, you know, with Dr. Hubers' work. All you'll have to do is to tell Hastings to do it,
human
Which you may be very certain I shall not do.
gpt
No? said Parkman, leaning over the desk a little and looking at him.
human
You say--no?
gpt
I do,
human
Then the popular idea is all wrong, isn't it?
gpt
I am at a loss to know to what popular idea you refer,
human
Oh merely to the popular idea that this place amounts to something; that it has let go of a little mediaevalism, and is more than a crude, cheap pattern--funny what ideas people get, isn't it? Now there are people who think the university here puts a value on individuality, that it would actually bend a rule or two to fit an individual case, in fact that it likes initiative, encourages originality, wouldn't in the least mind having a few actual achievements to its credit.
gpt
At the same time, goaded from his icy calm--
human
And doing a rather unconventional thing, in order to bring about a very great thing, would be making itself ridiculous, would it?
gpt
I fail to see how anything so preposterous could bring about good results,
human
Do you? replied Parkman, not yet dismissed.
gpt
Well, if you will pardon a little more plain speaking, I will say that this is something I know a good deal more about than you do.
human
We have made other arrangements for the laboratory,
gpt
So? Going to give it to some fellow who will devote himself, after the fashion of university men, to verifying other men's conclusions?