human
Now, said Sharlee,
gpt
It is four weeks next Monday, said Mrs. Paynter, putting a shoe-horn in her novel to mark the place,
human
Never you mind Mrs. Marsden, Aunt Jennie, said the girl, gently drawing her back to the muttons,--
gpt
Yes, the room known as the third hall back. A small, neat, economical room, entirely suitable for a single gentleman. I gave him my lowest price, though I must say I did not dream then that he would spend all his time in his room, apparently having no downtown occupation, which is certainly not what one expects from gentlemen, who get low terms on the silent understanding that they will take themselves out of the house directly after breakfast. Nevertheless--will you believe it?--ten days passed and not a word was said about payment. So one morning I stopped him in the hall, as though for a pleasant talk. However, I was careful to introduce the point, by means of an anecdote I told him, that guests here were expected to pay by the week. Of course I supposed that the hint would be sufficient.
human
But it wasn't, alas?
gpt
On the contrary, ten days again passed, and you might suppose there was no such thing as money in all this world. Then I resolved to approach him directly. I knocked on his door, and when he opened it, I told him plainly and in so many words that I would be very much gratified if he would let me have a check whenever convenient, as unfortunately I had heavy bills due that must be met. I was very much mortified, Sharlee! As I stood there facing that young man, dunning him like a grocer's clerk, it flashed into my mind to wonder what your great-grandfather, the Governor, would think if he could have looked down and seen me. For as you know, my dear, though I doubt if you altogether realize it at all times, since our young people of to-day, I regret to have to say it--though of course I do except you from this criticism--
human
And when you went so far as to tell him this, how did he take it?
gpt
He took it admirably. He told me that I need feel no concern about the matter; that while out of funds for the moment, doubtless he would be in funds again shortly. His manner was dignified, calm, unabashed--
human
But it didn't blossom, as we might say, in money?
gpt
As to that--no. What are you to do, Sharlee? I feel sure the man is not dishonest,--in fact he has a singularly honest face, transparently so,--but he is only somehow queer. He appears an engrossed, absent-minded young man--what is the word I want?--an eccentric. That is what he is, an engrossed young eccentric.
human
Do you gather, Aunt Jennie, that he's a gentleman?
gpt
What does the term mean nowadays? The race of gentlemen, as the class existed in my day, seems to be disappearing from the face of the earth. We see occasional survivals of the old order, like Gardiner West or the young Byrd men, but as a whole--well, my dear, I will only say that the modern standards would have excited horror fifty years ago and--
human
Well, but according to the modern standards, do you think he is?
gpt
I _don't_ know. He is and he isn't. But no--no--no! He is _not_ one. No man can be a gentleman who is utterly indifferent to the comfort and feelings of others, do you think so?
human
Indeed, no! And is that what he is?
gpt
I will illustrate by an incident, said Mrs. Paynter.
human
As I say, this young man spends his entire time in his room, where he is, I believe, engaged in writing a book.
gpt
Oh, me! Then he's penniless, depend upon it.
human
Well, when we had the frost and freeze early last week, he came to me one night and complained of the cold in his room. You know, Sharlee, I do not rent that room as a sitting-room, nor do I expect to heat it, at the low price, other than the heat from the halls. So I invited him to make use of the dining-room in the evenings, which, as you know, with the folding-doors drawn, and the yellow lamp lit, is converted to all intents and purposes into a quiet and comfortable reading-room. Somewhat grumblingly he went down. Fifi was there as usual, doing her algebra by the lamp. The young man took not the smallest notice of her, and presently when she coughed several times--the child's cold happened to be bad that night--he looked up sharply and asked her please to stop. Fifi said that she was afraid she couldn't help it. He replied that it was impossible for him to work in the room with a noise of that sort, and either the noise or he would have to vacate. So Fifi gathered up her things and left. I found her, half an hour later, in her little bedroom, which was ice-cold, coughing and crying over her sums, which she was trying to work at the bureau. That was how I found out about it. The child would never have said a word to me.
gpt
How simply outrageous!
human
Well, what do you think I'd better do, Sharlee?
gpt
I think you'd better let me waylay him in the hall after supper and tell him that the time has come when he must either pay up or pack up.
human
My dear! Can you well be as blunt as that?
gpt
Dear Aunt Jennie, as I view it, you are not running an eleemosynary institution here?
human
Of course not,
gpt
The purpose of this establishment is to collect money from the transient and resident public. Now you're not a bit good at collecting money because you're so well-bred, but I'm not so awfully well-bred--
human
You _are_--
gpt
I'm bold--blunt--brazen! I'm forward. I'm resolute and grim. In short, I belong to the younger generation which you despise so--
human
I don't despise _you_, you dear--
gpt
Come, said Sharlee, springing up;
human
His name is Queed. Did you ever--?
gpt
Queed? _Queed_? Q-u-e-e-d?
human
An odd name, isn't it? There were no such people in my day.
gpt
Probably after to-morrow there will be none such once more.
human
Mr. Klinker has christened him the little Doctor--a hit at his appearance and studious habits, you see--and even the servants have taken it up.
gpt
Aunt Jennie, said Sharlee at the door,
human
Certainly, my dear, and they went down, the older lady disappearing toward the dining-room. In the parlor Sharlee was greeted cordially and somewhat respectfully. Major Brooke, who appeared to have taken an extra toddy in honor of her coming, or for any other reason why, flung aside his newspaper and seized both her hands. Mr. Bylash, in the moleskin waistcoat, sure enough, bowed low and referred to her agreeably as