human
Your wife is taking a nap,
gpt
Fortunate woman! he responded, sinking wearily upon a wicker divan.
human
The only interest I’ve had for hours in any exhibit was as to whether there was a chair in it; but Gorham is a terrible fellow. Merciless. Each building being one thousand miles from every other building makes it hard lines. I threatened more than once to trip over one of those chains that say ’Keep off the grass,’ and refuse to get up again.
gpt
You and your brother should have taken one of those double chairs.
human
Oh, there wouldn’t have been any room for Gorham, and the jolly man laughed.
gpt
I suppose you have done the Plaisance.
human
Partly, yes.
gpt
Gorham and I went into the Dahomey village, this afternoon. Some of those savages were unpleasantly personal. Good afternoon, Aunt Love, as the housekeeper appeared on the veranda.
human
I was just telling Miss Mildred how those children of nature in the Dahomey village injured my finer feelings to-day. One of them came for me with a big carving knife, yelling ’Big man, fat man,’ and going through the pantomime of taking a slice off my sacred person.
gpt
Dirty critters!
human
Isn’t it a funny paradox to see an incandescent light over the door of each hut? went on Page.
gpt
There was one big fellow squatted down in the sun, off by himself, playing on a rough sort of a harp, and singing monotonously something that sounded like ’Come away, come away, Chicago.’ I tried to write down the pitches he sang, and that amused him immensely. His ivories would have made a perfect dentist’s sign. I gave him a dime or so to repeat the performance, a sufficient number of times, and he was delighted, and kept saying ’Chicago beer.’
human
Yes, returned Miss Berry bitterly.
gpt
They have to come to a Christian land for that.
human
Wait till you see the South Sea Islanders,
gpt
We did. Fine, aren’t they? There is an exhibition of drill and muscle worth seeing.
human
And that _café-au-lait_ skin! exclaimed Mildred.
gpt
I am entirely spoiled for white beauties.
human
Let ’em wear somethin’ more ’n a straw wreath and a piece o’ calico then,
gpt
But Aunt Love, suggested Page,
human
What are you all laughing about?
gpt
Your husband has been to the Midway, returned Miss Berry.
human
Don’t be surprised at anything he may say or do; and I don’t believe we’d better wait for Mr. and Mrs. Van Tassel any longer, for dinner was ready when I came out here.
gpt
I don’t understand Clover’s staying so,
human
I go, I fly, to make myself presentable,
gpt
For pity’s sake, Aunt Love, when you are going to speak of Jack and Clover as you did this evening, don’t say Mr. and Mrs. Van Tassel.
human
Why not?
gpt
Why, it sounds so—so—absurdly married.
human
What shall I say then?
gpt
Mrs. and Mr. Van Tassel, of course,
human
Well, if that ain’t a new idea. Mrs. and Mr.! Do tell! said Miss Berry good-naturedly.
gpt
Oh, I’ll learn a deal of etiquette to take back to Pearfield. It’s enough to do a body good to see Mr. Jack and your sister so much to each other, ain’t it? Seems if they have lots o’ pleasure together now; just as it should be.
human
I don’t know that they are together so very much,
gpt
That’s ’cause you’re off so much o’ the time. Why, they’re just the best friends that ever was; and Mrs. Van Tassel, she’s gone back before my eyes from a grave woman full or care to a merry girl just as free as a bird. It does me good, Miss Mildred. It does me so much good, I’m ’most afraid I shall grow fat on it.
human
There is Blitzen, barking,