human
You know, said Jimmy, when they were out of earshot of the crowd,
gpt
I'm glad you've noticed the change in me, said Barbara, with suspicious humility.
human
Of course I was a child a year ago; now I'm a woman, and better company for people of intelligence.
gpt
That's quite true, said Jimmy.
human
I can talk to you now about things I should never have thought of mentioning to you last year. I can tell you, Barbara, that this marriage of B's has made me see a good many things in a different light. When you see a girl like that--bright and taking and pretty--pledging herself to a man for life--and doing it before an old Bishop of course makes it all the more jolly--it makes you think that a lot of the business that's talked about love--well, the Johnnies who talk about it don't know as much as they think. That's how it struck me in the church just now, 'specially when the old bird spouted that bit about for richer and poorer, and in sickness and in health and all that. I don't know whether you felt something of the same. I expect you did. You've got a heart; I know that, though everybody might not twig it.
gpt
Thank you, Jimmy, said Barbara.
human
Yes, I felt much the same as you say you did. It made me think that there was no sense in wasting yourself over a lot of idle fancies. Much better wait till exactly the right man comes along, and give him everything.
gpt
H'm! Well! said Jimmy, evidently somewhat at a loss.
human
But _you_ haven't had much time for idle fancies.
gpt
Oh, I don't know, said Barbara.
human
I wouldn't tell it to everybody, but I know it's safe with you. You understand these things. I-- No, I can't after all. Please forget what I said, Jimmy. There is nobody; nobody at all; and if there were, you're the last person I should confess it to.
gpt
My dear child, said Jimmy,
human
Oh, I know it isn't,
gpt
Well, I shouldn't be so sure of that if I were you, said Jimmy.
human
You're young, and you don't know men. You see _them_ taking fancies to people, but perhaps after all there isn't much in it. This fellow may be thinking a great deal about you all the time; perhaps not liking to show it himself because you haven't given him any encouragement.
gpt
Oh, no. I know he can't possibly care for me at all. Besides, it's all over now. I _was_ rather weak, but I'm not any more.
human
If this chap let you see that he was thinking about you, and was very glad to know that you were thinking about him in that way, I suppose it wouldn't be over, would it?
gpt
I think so, but I couldn't be certain till I got back.
human
Got back! What do you mean? Got back where?
gpt
Why, to Paris. You see, I've had six weeks to get over it.
human
Do you mean to say, Barbara, that you've fallen in love with some ass of a fellow in Paris?
gpt
Oh, he wasn't an ass, Jimmy. He was a splendid-looking man. He was one of the Gardes Municipales who was on duty at the Opéra. I saw him three times. Before that it was one of the clergy at the English Church. Now I've begun I may as well tell you everything. Before that there was a driver of a _fiacre_ who used to stand in the Place Saint Sulpice, but he was much too old--about sixty-five, I should think, and that didn't last long. Before that--oh, but I can't tell you any more. I'm glad I've made a clean breast of it, though. _You_ understand it all, I know, and can make allowances.
human
I can't make allowances for that sort of rotten business, said Jimmy stiffly.
gpt
You're the last girl I should have thought would have mucked about like that. If that's the way you behave yourself in Paris, I don't think you ought to be allowed to go back there.
human
I don't suppose I should be allowed, if Dad knew. Of course, as I told you, it's all over now; but I don't know what will happen when I get back to Paris. I may see somebody else, and not be able to help myself. There's rather a handsome violin teacher who comes to teach one of the girls--but I mustn't give away other people's secrets, and she has left now. I shall be the only one to learn the violin next term.
gpt
You don't play the violin.
human
I asked Dad if I might, and he said I could.
gpt
Barbara! Jimmy stopped in the path again, with the evident intention of expressing himself with weight and fervour. But he had only got out the sentence.
human
You will _not_ learn the violin next term,
gpt
What's up? he asked.
human
You look as if you were having a row.
gpt
Jimmy objects to my learning the violin, said Barbara.
human
I'm sure I don't know why.
gpt
You know very well why, said Jimmy.
human
Do you wish me to tell George the reason why I object?
gpt
Yes, if you've got one.
human
She has taken a fancy to the violin teacher, said Jimmy.
gpt
She actually acknowledges it, and says--
human
Why shouldn't I acknowledge it? interrupted Barbara.
gpt
She's a very clever teacher, and took the First Prize at the Conservatoire.
human
You can't get out of it like that, said Jimmy hotly.
gpt
If there's a woman there's a man too. You said so. And what about the cab-driver, and the bobby, and the curate? It's a good deal too serious for me to keep it to myself, and I shall tell George everything you told me.
human
Yes, you tell him all about it, dear, said Barbara.
gpt
I can't stay any longer. I must go to B. Good-bye, little man.
human
Good-bye, my precious old Daddy, she said.
gpt
I'll write to you the very first thing.