human
You have a great gift,
gpt
One is afraid of taking a thing too seriously because it is one's own.
human
Good heavens, what does it matter whose it is? There may be a sort of inverted vanity in refusing fair play to a power, on that ground. Alas! here is one of the first morbid signs of the evil at work upon you. If you had been wholesomely moving and striving in the right direction, do you think you would have been guilty of that piece of egotism?
gpt
Vanity pursues one into hidden corners of the mind. I am so used to that sort of spirit among women. Apparently I have caught the infection.
human
I would not let it go farther,
gpt
To do myself justice, I think it is superficial, said Hadria with a laugh.
human
I would dare anything, _any_thing for a chance of freedom, for----, she broke off, hesitating.
gpt
I remember once--years ago, when I was quite a girl--seeing a young ash-tree that had got jammed into a chink so that it couldn't grow straight, or spread, as its inner soul, poor stripling, evidently inspired it to grow. Outside, there were hundreds of upright, vigorous, healthful young trees, fulfilling that innate idea in apparent gladness, and with obvious general advantage, since they were growing into sound, valuable trees, straight of trunk, nobly developed. I felt like the poor sapling in the cranny, that had just the same natural impetus of healthy growth as all the others, but was forced to become twisted, and crooked, and stunted and wretched. I think most women have to grow in a cranny. It is generally known as their Sphere. Algitha gave an approving chuckle.
human
I noticed, Hadria added,
gpt
Yes. Well, the thing to do is to get out of it,
human
You really advise that?
gpt
Advise? One dare not advise. It is too perilous. No general theories will hold in all instances.
human
Tell me, said Hadria,
gpt
What qualities?