human
I like your brother better than any other man I know,
gpt
Well, I don't think you told him as much as that, did you?
human
I did not, Anna answered.
gpt
To be frank with you, Lady Lescelles, when your brother asked me the other day to be his wife I was under a false impression as regards his relations--with some other person. I know now that I was mistaken.
human
That sounds more promising, Lady Lescelles declared.
gpt
May I tell Nigel to come and see you again? I am not here to do his love-making for him, you know. I came to see you on my own account.
human
Thank you very much, Anna said.
gpt
It is very nice of you to come, but I do not think for the present, at any rate, I could give him any other answer. I do not intend to be married, or to become engaged just at present.
human
Well, why not? Lady Lescelles asked, smiling.
gpt
I can only be a few years older than you, and I have been married four years. I can assure you, I wouldn't be single again for worlds. One gets a lot more fun married.
human
Our cases are scarcely similar,
gpt
Why not? Lady Lescelles answered.
human
You are one of the Hampshire Pellissiers, I know, and your family are quite as good as ours. As for money, Nigel has tons of it.
gpt
It isn't exactly that, Anna answered,
human
Well, you can't say you're a failure there, Lady Lescelles remarked, smiling.
gpt
I've been to hear you lots of times.
human
I have been more fortunate than I deserved, Anna answered,
gpt
Do you think it is really worth while? Lady Lescelles asked gently.
human
I am sure you will marry Nigel sooner or later, and then all your work will be thrown away.
gpt
If I were to marry now, she said,
human
What else, Lady Lescelles murmured,
gpt
Afterwards, she said,
human
I should be perfectly content to have everything done for me. But I do think that if a girl is to feel comfortable about it they should start fairly equal. Take your case, for instance. You brought your husband a large fortune, your people were well known in society, your family interest I have heard was useful to him in his parliamentary career. So far as I am concerned, I am just now a hopeless nonentity. Your brother has everything--I have not shown myself capable even of earning my own living except in a way which could not possibly bring any credit upon anybody. And beyond this, Lady Lescelles, as you must know, recent events have set a good many people's tongues wagging, and I am quite determined to live down all this scandal before I think of marrying any one.
gpt
I am sure, Lady Lescelles said, gently,
human
You are very kind, Anna said.
gpt
I do hope I have been able to make you understand how I feel, that you don't consider me a hopeless prig. It does sound a little horrid to talk so much about oneself and to have views.
human
I think, Lady Lescelles said, putting down her teacup,
gpt
I shall like to see him, Anna answered.
human
I really owe him something of an apology.
gpt
I will tell him, Lady Lescelles said.
human
And now let us leave the men alone and talk about ourselves.
gpt
I am delighted to see you all here, Anna said smiling upon them from behind the tea-tray,