human
I can't for the life of me see what motive she can have. To hide is all very well--to bury herself in a working-class suburb and pretend to be poor is certainly a much safer plan than endeavouring to slip across to the Continent. But why does she want you to act as her husband? Not for appearances' sake, surely! And yet if she hadn't a very strong motive she would not thus run the very great risk of compromising herself. She respects you, too, therefore all the stronger reason why she would never ask you to place yourself in that awkward position. No, old fellow, he declared, seating himself upon the edge of my bed,
gpt
I can't make it out at all.
human
Of course, it has to do with the affair of yesterday,
gpt
Undoubtedly. It has some connection with it, but what it is we can't yet discern.
human
I can only act as she suggests,
gpt
I fear you can't do anything else, he said, after a pause.
human
Only you'll have to be most careful and circumspect, for I can foresee danger ahead. Tibbie's clever enough, but she is erratic sometimes, and one untimely word of hers may upset everything. I hardly like the idea of you posing as her husband, Wilfrid. I tell you plainly that I have some distinct premonition of evil--forgive me for saying so.
gpt
I hope not. I'm only consenting to it for her sake.
human
Because you are still just a little bit fond of her, old fellow. Now, confess it.
gpt
I'm not, Eric. I swear to you I'm not. We could never marry. We are no longer lovers.
human
I hope not, he said in an altered tone.
gpt
But pretended love-making is always dangerous, you know.
human
Well, I said, pacing up the old tapestried room and down again,
gpt
With all my heart, my dear chap, he said.
human
But--well, somehow I have had lately a very faint suspicion of one thing; and that is, I believe Ellice Winsloe is deeply in love with her. I've seen it in his face. If so, you and I have to reckon with him.
gpt
How?
human
Because as soon as she disappears he'll commence making eager inquiries and trying to trace her. His inquiries may lead him in our direction, don't you see. Besides, it would be awkward if he found you down at Camberwell.
gpt
But don't you think that when I'm a compositor in a well-worn tweed suit and a threadbare overcoat with wages of two pounds a week I'll be beyond the pale and safe from recognition?
human
That's all very well, but the working-class are intelligent. They'll easily see through a gentleman's disguise.
gpt
I quite agree, I said.
human
There is no more intelligent class than the working-class in London, or indeed in any of the big cities of the North. It is the working-man who is the back-bone of England, after all. The capitalist may direct and public companies may manoeuvre, but it is the skilled labourer who has made England what she is. Yes, I'm quite with you there. I shall have to exert all my tact if I'm to pass as a printer among working-men. Yet Tibbie's idea that I should be on a morning paper and be out at work at night is an ingenious one, isn't it?
gpt
Ingenious? Why, isn't she one of the very cleverest women in England? he asked.
human
I say that she is as unequalled for her ingenuity as for her beauty. Therefore, Wilfrid, have a care. I'll help you--unknown to Tibbie, of course--but I beg of you to be careful. And now let's turn in for an hour or so. We must be astir and alert to-morrow, for our work of fathoming the mystery must commence at once. We must be all ears and eyes. We already hold the honours in our hand, it is true; but much very difficult and dangerous work lies before us.
gpt
Never mind, I said.
human
We must save her, Eric. We must save her at all hazards!