human
All this, however, he resumed,
gpt
I beg you not to mind it so much.
human
I mind only that you should dare to say such things to me,
gpt
Remember that you forced me to speak.
human
I did not expect--this.
gpt
How could I know what you expected? But in one way I am glad you made me go on; it is well that you should have for once a man's true opinion.
human
All men do not think as you think.
gpt
Yes, they do; the honest ones.
human
Mr. Percival does not.
gpt
Oh, Percival! He's effeminate.
human
So you judge him,
gpt
We will not quarrel about Lorimer Percival, said Ford;
human
Then, as they entered the last room,
gpt
Take it as I meant it, Katharine, he said, the tone of his voice changing--
human
Curious, isn't it, how things come about? she said.
gpt
You have made me a declaration, after all.
human
A conditional one.
gpt
No, not conditional in reality, although you might have pleased yourself with the fancy. For I need not have been in earnest. I had only to pretend a little, to pretend to be the acquiescent creature you admire, and I could have turned you round my little finger. It is rather a pity I did not do it. It might have been entertaining.
human
I do not in the least believe you,
gpt
It is not of much consequence whether you believe me or not. I think, on the whole, however, that I may as well take this occasion to tell you what you seem not to have suspected: I am engaged to Mr. Percival.
human
Of course, then, you were angry when I spoke of him as I did. But I beg you will do me the justice to believe that I never for a moment dreamed that he was anything to Mrs. Winthrop.
gpt
Your dreams must be unobservant.
human
I knew that he was with you, of course, and that you received his letters--there is one in your pocket now. But it made no impression upon me--that is, as far as you were concerned.
gpt
And why not? Even in the guise of an apology, Mr. Ford, you succeed in insinuating your rudeness. What you have said, when translated, simply means that you never dreamed that Mrs. Winthrop could be interested in Mr. Percival. And why should she not be interested? But the truth is, there is such an infinite space between you that you cannot in the least comprehend him.
human
That is very possible, said Ford.
gpt
But I have not now the honor to be a rival of Mr. Percival's, even as an unfavored suitor; you did not comply with my condition.
human
You prefer that I should not go with you, he said;
gpt
We will select subjects that will act as safe conductors down to commonplace,
human
It may be for a long time, he remarked.
gpt
I start towards Italy this evening; I shall go to Chambéry and Turin.
human
Do not suppose that I could not have been, that I could not be--if I chose--all you described,
gpt
I know you could. It was the possibilities in you which attracted me, and made me say what I did.