human
Does Bess know, asked Miss Finch,
gpt
Oh, there isn't anything there, said Doctor Brown,
human
I feel sure. Though his inti--ah, friendship with this Le Claire woman is, just at this time, in bad taste. But all men are natural polygamists, you know.
gpt
They say, said the voice of a member from across the room,
human
They are all talking of it, said Mrs. Alvord.
gpt
Jim says it seems odd to have this Mr. Blodgett looking into the Brassfield business. But everything is odd, now--the hypnotist and Mr. Blodgett, and Daisy Scarlett; she's still here.
human
O----o!
gpt
Really, said Miss Finch, who wore her dress high about the neck, and whose form was a symphony in angles,
human
Judge Blodgett, said Doctor Brown,
gpt
The first light Bellevale has ever received on a dark past, said Miss Finch,
human
Yes, and he knows how I treated him for it! said Doctor Brown.
gpt
I propose to call people down when they act so with me!
human
Quite right, said Mrs. Alvord,
gpt
How kind of them! said Elizabeth.
human
Has _Parsifal_ received any attention?
gpt
I tell you, said Slater,
human
Brass has been practising that French doctrine about hunting for the woman--a little too industriously. They're getting to be something--something----
gpt
Fierce,
human
Well, that isn't quite what I meant to say, said Slater,
gpt
It's changed Brassfield like a coat of paint, this engagement, said Edgington.
human
I saw something last week that showed me more than you could print in a book as big as the Annual Digest. You see, he went sort of gravitating down by where the sewer gang was at work, like a man in a strange country full of hostiles, and although he must have been conscious of the fact that he's slated for mayor in the spring, he never showed that he knew of the presence of a human being, to say nothing of a voter, in the whole gang, and Barney Conlon's gang, too. Why, he'd better have done anything than ignore 'em! He'd better a darn sight have stood and sung _Drill, Ye Tarriers, Drill!_ as a political move. Now that shows a revolution in his nature. It's uncanny, and it'll play the very deuce with the slate if it goes on.
gpt
Well, you all know what took place at his counting-room, asked Slater,
human
I knew a fellow once, said Edgington,
gpt
They change to their lady friends, said Slater,
human
Me, too, said Edgington,
gpt
He wants the judge and the professor at our supper next week,
human
I've sent 'em invitations, said Alvord.
gpt
Anything to please the patient. I could tell you a good deal about this, fellows; but 'Gene and I are brothers and closer than brothers; and F. D. and B. goes with me; but it won't hurt anything for you to know that he's got carloads of trouble, and you haven't any of you come within a mile of the mark. He told me all about it the night he got back from New York. I think it will blow over if things can be kept from blowing up instead, for a few days--slumbering volcano--woman scorned--hell's fury, you know; don't ask me any more. But this hiding out won't do.
human
Well, I should think not, said Slater.
gpt
We've got to get him going about as usual or there'll be questions asked and publicity--those red-headed women are pretty vivacious conversationalists when they get mad, and you can't tell what may be pulled off, even if he acts as natural as life.
human
This supper ought to help some,
gpt
It will, said Alvord.
human
We must make it a hum-dinger. And we must see that he shows himself of tenor at the club and lodge meetings and hops. Why, it's shameful, the way we've let him drop out.