human
Why didn’t you remind me? he said reproachfully.
gpt
I haven’t done my errand.
human
Priscilla’s part was a passive one, if I recollect rightly.
gpt
But you also recollect the rough temper of Captain Standish. I think you are rather cruel.
human
Oh, failure might have given you true humility.
gpt
I make plenty of failures, thank you. Please don’t let this be one of them, and don’t judge Jack’s intensity of interest by my own. May I sit down once more? Page knotted his brow reminiscently.
human
Jack outlined a plan for me. He suggested a number of arguments with which I was to lead up to the main idea, but they are pretty well muddled in my brain now. Gorham gave a short, desperate laugh.
gpt
After this confession of weakness, Mrs. Van Tassel, you will be obliged, if only out of generosity, to send me back with a ’yes.’ Now, let me see; I’m confident this ought not to come first, but Jack wanted me to say that he was certain that Uncle Richard left the homestead to him instead of to you, at your own instigation.
human
Mr. Van Tassel would probably have acted as he did in any case, but I wanted to make certain that Jack’s dear old home should be secured to him.
gpt
It humiliates Jack to feel that you avoid the place for fear he might go there.
human
This is an unpleasant errand for you, Mr. Page.
gpt
Please don’t use that tone. Jack means so well, I couldn’t refuse to be the go-between. He asks, he even begs, that if you intend to remain in Chicago now, you will go back to your home. It is comfortable. All your belongings are there. His father made every arrangement for you. Jack feels sure he would be grieved to have you leave it. He himself is going back to Boston. The housekeeper is alone there and is pining for you; I forget whether that was to be an argument, but the fact remains. Jack thinks it would save a lot of talking among your friends if you were to go on in the old way. Naturally, he has no use for such a big place. It would be too lonely to endure under the circumstances, and it is hardly the thing to leave the house tenantless year after year. Of course all this is under Jack’s supposition that you have no prejudice against the home as a home. If that is false
human
No. I have a strong attachment for the locality and the house itself. Mildred has also.
gpt
Then you will say yes; and I will promise to take my success as meekly as you could desire.
human
Shall I do it, Mr. Page?
gpt
By all means, if you ask me. Here is the Fair coming on, and the difficulties of suiting one’s self in a home in Chicago are going to be many, I fancy.
human
I don’t want to think of that. We should be able to find a comfortable place.
gpt
Then consider that suggestion unmade, and let me take your consent to Jack. Do you still hesitate?
human
Yes. I had quite made up my mind to do without Jack, and this would change all that.
gpt
Jack does not at all wish to be dispensed with.
human
I consider, said Clover with grave gentleness,
gpt
And yet he does. We cannot always understand the vagaries of youth, Mrs. Van Tassel.
human
Jack was always willful, she returned, smiling sadly.
gpt
Tell him I thank him, Mr. Page, and that Mildred and I will talk it over.