human
Will you sing a little louder than the rest next Sunday afternoon, Sister Maria? he asked.
gpt
I will be in the church.
human
That would be a great sin,
gpt
Why?
human
Because I should have to be thinking about you instead of about the holy service. Do you not know that? But nothing is sinful according to you Protestants, I suppose. At all events, come to the church.
gpt
Do you think we are all devils, Sister Maria?
human
More or less. She laughed again.
gpt
They say in the town that you have a compact with the devil.
human
Do you hear what is said in the town?
gpt
Sometimes. The gardener brings the gossip and tells it to the cook. Or Sora Nanna tells it to me when she brings the linen. There are a thousand ways. The people think we know nothing because they never see us. But we hear all that goes on.
human
Shall I never see you, Sister Maria?
gpt
Me? But you see me every day--
human
Yes,--but your face, without the veil.
gpt
It is against all rules,
human
Is it not against all rules that we should sit here and make conversation every day for half an hour?
gpt
Yes--I suppose it is. But you are here as a doctor to take care of my aunt, she added quickly.
human
That makes it right. You are not a man. You are a doctor.
gpt
Oh,--I understand. Dalrymple laughed a little.
human
Then I am never to see your beautiful face?
gpt
How do you know it is beautiful, since you have never seen it?
human
From your beautiful hands,
gpt
Oh!
human
It is a sin to hide what God has made beautiful,
gpt
If I have anything about me that is beautiful, it is for God's glory that I hide it,