human
I can tell you exactly, Nora declared.
gpt
You are in town for a few days only, and I want to see as much of you as I can; Susan here is deserting me at nine o'clock to go to a musical comedy; I particularly wanted a sole Georges, and I knew, if Susan and I came here alone, a person whom we neither of us like would come and share our table. Therefore, I made artless enquiries as to your engagements for the evening. When I found that you proposed to dine alone in some hidden place rather than run the risk of meeting any of your political acquaintances at the club, I went in for a little mental suggestion.
human
I see, he murmured.
gpt
Then my invitation wasn't a spontaneous one?
human
Not at all, she agreed.
gpt
I put the idea into your head.
human
And now that we are here, are you going to stretch me on the rack and delve for my opinions on all sorts of subjects? is Miss Susan there going to take them down in shorthand on her cuff and you make a report to Dartrey when he comes back to-morrow?
gpt
After hours, she reassured him.
human
Susan and I are going to talk a little nonsense after the day's work. You may join in if you can unbend so far. We shall probably eat more than is good for us--I had a cup of coffee for lunch--and if you decide to be magnificent and offer us wine, we shall drink it and talk more nonsense than ever.
gpt
I thought we were going to discuss the effect of Grecian philosophy upon the Roman system of government.
human
You're a long way out, she declared,
gpt
Our conversation will skirt the edges of many subjects. We shall speak of the Russian Ballet, Susan and I will exchange a few whispered confidences about our admirers, we shall discuss even one who comes in and goes out, with subtle references to their clothes and morals, and when you and I are left alone we may even indulge in the wholesome, sentimental exercise of a little flirtation.
human
There you have me, he confessed.
gpt
I know a little about everything else you have mentioned.
human
A very good opening. she approved.
gpt
Keep it till Susan has gone and then propose yourself as a disciple. There is only one drawback about this place, she went on, nodding curtly across the room to Miller.
human
So many of our own people come here. Mr. Miller must be pleased to see us together.
gpt
Why? Tallente asked.
human
Is he an admirer?
gpt
He would like to he, she admitted,
human
You see, if our party has a fault, it is in a certain lack of system. We have only a titular chief and no real leader. Miller thinks that post is his by predestination. Your coming is beginning to worry him already. It was entirely on your account he paid me that visit this afternoon.
gpt
To be perfectly frank with you, Tallente sighed,
human
I should find Miller a loathsome coadjutor.
gpt
There are drawbacks to everything in life, Nora replied.
human
Long before Miller has become anything except a nuisance to you, you will have realised that the only political party worth considering, during the next fifty years, at any rate, will be the Democrats. After that, I shouldn't be at all surprised if the aristocrats didn't engineer a revolution, especially if we disenfranchise them.--Susan, you have a new hat on. Tell me at once with whom you are going to Daly's?
gpt
No one who counts, the girl declared, with a little grimace.
human
I am going with my brother and a very sober married friend of his.
gpt
After working hours, Nora confessed, glancing critically at the sole which had just been tendered for Tallente's examination,
human
It sounds cannibalistic, Tallente rejoined.
gpt
Have I any cause for alarm?
human
Not so far as I am concerned, Susan assured him.
gpt
I have really found my man, only he doesn't know it yet. I am trying to get it into his brain by mental suggestion.
human
You wouldn't think Susan would be so much luckier than I, would you? Nora observed, studying her friend reflectively.
gpt
I am really much better-looking, but I think she must have more taking ways. You needn't be nervous, Mr. Tallente. You are outside the range of our ambitions. I shall have to be content with some one in a humbler walk of life.
human
Aren't you a little over-modest? he asked.
gpt
You haven't told me much about the social side of this new era which you propose to inaugurate, but I imagine that intellect will be the only aristocracy.
human
Even then, Norah sighed,
gpt
I am lacking in confidence. To tell you the truth, I am not a great believer in my own sex. I don't see us occupying a very prominent place in the politics of the next few decades. The functions of woman were decided for her by nature and a million years of revolt will never alter them.
human
You mean that you don't believe in woman Member of Parliament, doctors and lawyers, and that sort of thing?
gpt
In a general way, certainly not, she replied.
human
Women doctors for women and children, yes! Lawyers--no! Members of Parliament--certainly not! Women were made for one thing and to do that properly should take all the energy they possess.
gpt
You are full of surprises, Tallente declared.
human
I expected a miracle of complexity and I find you almost primitive. She laughed.
gpt
Then considering the sort of man you are, I ought to have gone up a lot in your estimation.
human
There are a very few higher notches, he assured her, smiling,
gpt
Susan dear, what time do you have to join your friends?
human
Nothing doing. I've got my seat. I am going when I've had my dinner comfortably. There's fried chicken coming and no considerations of friendship would induce me to hurry away from it.
gpt
There is no doubt about it, women do lack the sporting instinct, she lamented.
human
Now if we'd both been men, and Mr. Tallente a charming woman, I should have just given you a wink, you would have muttered something clumsy about an appointment, shuffled off and finished your dinner elsewhere.
gpt
Our sex isn't capable of such sacrifices, Susan declared, leaning back to enable the waiter to fill her glass.
human
There's the champagne, too.