human
Yes, he said,
gpt
It's easy to see why you aren't lonely with that wonderful girl to look at. Is she really coming out by the next steamer but one? It's hard to believe because she's so much too good to be true.
human
Yes, he said,
gpt
The usual cable agent, I said,
human
You haven't asked me my business in these parts, I said,
gpt
Then, by Jove! said Graves,
human
I've noticed only eighteen, I said,
gpt
You think you've got me stumped, don't you? he said.
human
That a mere cable agent wouldn't notice such things. Well, that grass there, and he pointed--
gpt
Are you just making things up to impress me?
human
No, sir, I am not. I know to the minute. You see, I'm a victim of hay-fever.
gpt
In that case, I said,
human
Really? And his whole face lighted up.
gpt
I'm delighted. Only six weeks. Why, then, if you'll stay round for only five or six weeks _more_ you'll be here for the wedding.
human
I'll make it if I possibly can, I said.
gpt
I want to see if that girl's really true.
human
Anything I can do to help you while you're gone? I've got loads of spare time----
gpt
If you knew anything about grasses----
human
I don't. But I'll blow back into the interior and look around. I've been meaning to right along, just for fun. But I can never get any of _them_ to go with me.
gpt
The natives?
human
Yes. Poor lot. They're committing race suicide as fast as they can. There are more wooden gods than people in Batengo village, and the superstition's so thick you could cut it with a knife. All the manly virtues have perished.... Aloiu!
gpt
Aloiu, said Graves,
human
Fifty dollars?
gpt
All right, coward, said Graves cheerfully.
human
Run away and play with the other children.... Now, isn't that curious? Neither love, money, nor insult will drag one of them a mile from the beach. They say that if you go 'back there in the grass' something awful will happen to you.
gpt
As what?
human
The last man to try it, said Graves,
gpt
Nonsense, I said,
human
They didn't say it was a snake, said Graves.
gpt
They said the marks of the bite were like those that would be made by the teeth of a very little--child.
human
What's the use of arguing with people that tell yarns like that! All the same, if you're bent on making expeditions back into the grass, you'll make 'em alone, unless the cable breaks and I'm free to make 'em with you.