human
I sincerely hope so, seeing she is your companion, replied Leah, not caring to take up so ridiculous a challenge.
gpt
When did you start her?
human
Leah! Lady Canvey thumped the ground again.
gpt
Don't talk slang. If you wish to know, although I don't think it is any of your business, Joan Tallentire came to me two months ago, during which time you have not come to see me.
human
I was abroad,
gpt
Gambling at Monte Carlo, I'll be bound.
human
I did meet Jim there. He lost heavily on the red. I won, and came home with enough to see me through the last month.
gpt
Who were you living on abroad?
human
Let me think, she murmured, not put out in the least.
gpt
Oh, that little dowdy Australian woman, who is trying to get into society on her husband's money, asked me to stop at their villa.
human
And you did?
gpt
For four weeks.
human
And borrowed money, I'll be bound.
gpt
You can't expect me to live with pigs for nothing,
human
You'd live with the devil and borrow from him, I believe,
gpt
I _do_ live with one, assented her god-daughter;
human
More modern flowers of speech!
gpt
I didn't create the language.
human
You can help using it.
gpt
No. People wouldn't understand if I talked like Lady Jane Grey or Elizabeth Fry.
human
They were good women.
gpt
But so dull, objected Lady Jim.
human
Why is it good women are always dull and dowdy?
gpt
They are getting ready for the next world,
human
Their outfit can't cost much, then, declared Leah, flippantly;
gpt
You're sorry for him, I'm sure,
human
Horribly, replied Lady Jim, calmly;
gpt
Don't call your fellow-sinner a creature, Leah.
human
Ah! Even had I not seen Lionel I could guess he had been with you, godmother. He loves the dirty and disreputable.
gpt
And you love the rich and disreputable.
human
That obvious speech is hardly worthy of your reputation, was Lady Jim's reply. Then she crossed her legs, rested her muff on her knee, and protested,
gpt
I can't wait here much longer----
human
On account of French?
gpt
No; but I'm going to dine at the Cecil to-night, with a boy in the Lancers. He's a nice boy.
human
And a rich boy?
gpt
Of course! I don't like boys without money. But this business, she went on hurriedly.
human
Jim and I are in a hole.
gpt
You ought to be in gaol,
human
That _would_ be a hole, said Leah, good-humouredly;
gpt
Why should I bother? It's nothing to do with me!
human
I'm your god-daughter.
gpt
You're a heartless cat, said Lady Canvey, angrily, and with her eyes scintillating like jewels.
human
It's no use, Leah. I've helped you and that rascal Jim over and over again. Apply to the Duke.
gpt
Oh, we've done that. He won't give us a penny.
human
Then ask some of those nice boys you talk of.
gpt
I don't ask any men for money, she declared;
human
And how dull that sounds, chuckled Lady Canvey, turning the tables;
gpt
Pooh! Much you care for Jim.
human
I do. Jim's got a temper. He told me this very morning he'd screw my neck if I broke loose.
gpt
Then I respect him for saying it, said Lady Canvey, energetically;
human
That's what I said to him, retorted Leah, grimly.
gpt
All the same, I am straight enough. No one can say a word against me.
human
I'm glad to hear it. You have your good points, Leah, observed Lady Canvey, in a more kindly tone;
gpt
I'm just about to do so, and there's bankruptcy on the other side, unless you help us, dear godmother,
human
I won't, was the firm response.
gpt
It's like pouring water into a sieve. I've given you and Jim at least five thousand pounds. Where is it, I ask--where?
human
We must pay our bills.
gpt
You ought to, but you don't.
human
Money will go.
gpt
In ways it shouldn't go, snapped the old woman, feeling herself mistress of the situation.
human
Don't talk nonsense to me, Leah. You and that rascal are a couple of spendthrifts. The Duke, bless him, started you both with a good home and a good income, and now----
gpt
Now we're on the rocks, as Jim cleverly puts it, said Leah, who could not help seeing the humour of the dilemma.
human
You didn't think Jim was so original, did you, godmother?
gpt
Leah, you're impossible!
human
I'm sure I don't know why you should say that, remonstrated Lady Jim.
gpt
I must keep up my position.
human
It's not as if you had been expensively brought up, went on Lady Canvey, unheeding.
gpt
Your father was a wasteful pauper, for he got precious little off that estate of his in Buckinghamshire.
human
And what he did get went into his own pocket, said Lady Jim, supplementing the family history;
gpt
Geoffrey Wain was like yourself, Leah--a hard-hearted, selfish----
human
Oh, spare me these adjectives, interrupted Lady Jim, rising.
gpt
My father is dead, so there's nothing more to say. If you can't help me, at least you needn't call me names.
human
I beg your pardon, said Lady Canvey, very politely.
gpt
As I don't intend to give you a shilling, I have no right to tell you what I think of your doings. Will you ring the bell, please? I want Joan.