human
I adore myself, and--my specialties. But there must be an unselfish streak in me which shows in moments like this. I respect and admire it. You may treat Don like a dog, but he'd never be happy away from you. And I am fool enough to want him to be happy. This kicked dog of yours, madame, happens to be the finest fellow I ever knew or expect to know.
gpt
You say I treat him like a dog! cried Annesley, roused to anger.
human
But how ought I to treat him? He came into my life in a way I thought romantic as a fairy tale. It was a trick--a play got up to deceive me! I knew nothing of his life; but because of the faith he inspired, I believed in him. No one except himself could have broken that belief. I would not have listened to a word against him. But when he thought I'd discovered something, the whole story came out. If I hadn't loved him so much to begin with, and put him on such a high pedestal, the fall wouldn't have been so great--wouldn't have broken my heart in pieces.
gpt
But Don gave up everything pleasant in his life, and came down here to this God-forsaken ranch--a man like Michael Donaldson, with a few hundred dollars where he'd had thousands--all for you, said Van Vreck,
human
My father was a clergyman,
gpt
There are many clergymen who have got as far from the light as the moon from the earth. I know more about Christianity myself than some of those narrow men with their 'cold Christs and tangled Trinities'! That is, I know all this on principle. I don't practise what I know, but that's my affair. Did Don ever excuse himself by mentioning the influence I brought to bear on him when he was almost a boy?
human
No, breathed Annesley.
gpt
He didn't excuse himself at all except to tell me about his father and mother, and a vow he'd made to revenge them on society.
human
It was like him not to whine for your forgiveness.
gpt
He would never whine,