human
Who calls there? Who goes?
gpt
It is I, Will, said Meriwether Lewis, advancing toward him.
human
Listen--tell me, Will, why did you do this?
gpt
Why did I do what? Merne, what is wrong?
human
This letter---- began Meriwether Lewis.
gpt
Certainly you carried it for me--why did you not bring it to me long ago?
human
What letter? Whose letter is it, Merne? I never saw it before. What is it you are saying? Are you mad?
gpt
I think so, said Lewis,
human
I think I must be. Here is a letter--I found it but now in my bed. I thought perhaps you had had it for me a long time, and placed it there as a surprise.
gpt
Who sends it, Merne. What does it say?
human
It is from the woman whose face I have seen at night, Will. She asks me to come back!
gpt
Burn it--throw it in the fire! said William Clark sharply.
human
Go back? What, forsake Mr. Jefferson--leave me?
gpt
God forgive me, Will, but you search my very heart! For one moment I was on the point of declaring myself too ill to finish this journey--on the point of letting you have all the honor of it. I was going to surrender my place to you.
human
You cannot desert us, Merne! You shall not! Go back to bed! Give me the letter! Bah! it is some counterfeit, some trick of one of the men!
gpt
It would be worth any man's life to try a jest like that, said Meriwether Lewis.
human
It is no counterfeit. I know it too well. This letter was written before we left St. Louis. How it came here I know not, but I know who wrote it.
gpt
She had no right----
human
Ah, but that is the cruelty of it--she _did_ have the right!
gpt
There are some things which a man must work out for himself, said William Clark slowly, after a time.
human
I don't think I'll ask any questions. If there is any place where I can take half your burden, you know what I will do. We've worked share and share alike, but perhaps some things cannot be shared, even by you and me. It is for you to tell me if I can help you now. If not, then you must decide.