human
I wonder whatever became of that fleet-footed girl who hung to my heels long after the more solidly constructed aristocracy gave up?
gpt
Lady Diana Guernsey?
human
That's the one. What became of her?
gpt
Why do you ask?
human
Because she gave me the run of my life. She was a good sport, that girl. I couldn't shake her off; I took to a taxi and she after me in another; my taxi broke down in the suburbs and I started across country, she after me. And the last I saw of her was just after I leaped a hedge and she was coming over it after me--a wonderful athletic young figure in midair silhouetted against the sky line. . . . That was the last I saw of her. I fancy she must have pulled up dead beat--or perhaps she came a cropper.
gpt
She did,
human
Is that so? he said, interested.
gpt
Hope it didn't damage her.
human
She broke her thigh.
gpt
Oh, that's too bad! he exclaimed.
human
If I'd guessed any such thing I'd have come back. . . . The poor little thing! I mean that, though she was nearly six feet, I seem to think of her as little--and, of course, I'm six--two and a half. . . . Good little sport, that Diana girl! She got over it all right, I hope.
gpt
It lamed her for life, Lord Marque.
human
Oh, dammitall! I say, it's a rotten shame, isn't it? And all on account of me--that superb young thing taking hedges like a hunter! Oh, come now, you know I--it hurts me all the way through. I wish I'd let her catch me! What would she have done to me? I wouldn't mind being pulled about a bit--or anything--if it would have prevented her injury. By gad, you know, I'd even have eaten her plum cake, frosting and all, to have saved her such a fate.
gpt
That was not the most tragic part of it, Lord Marque.
human
God bless us! Was there anything more?
gpt
Yes. . . . She was in love with you.
human
With--with _me_?
gpt
Yes. As a young, romantic girl she fell in love with you. She was a curious child--like all the Guernseys, a strange mixture of impulse and constancy, of romance and determination. If she had fallen in love with Satan she would have remained constant. But she only fell in love with young Marque. . . . And she loves him to this day.
human
That--that's utterly impossible! he stammered.
gpt
Didn't she become a suffragette and carry a banner and chase me and vow to make me eat my own words frosted on a terrible plum cake?
human
Yes. And all the while she went on loving you.
gpt
How do you know?
human
She confided in me.
gpt
In _you_!
human
I knew her well, Lord Marque. . . . Not as well as I thought I did, perhaps; yet, perhaps better than--many--perhaps better than anybody. . . . We were brought up together.
gpt
You were her governess?
human
I--attempted to act in a similar capacity. . . . She was difficult to teach--very, very difficult to govern. . . . I am afraid I did not do my best with her.
gpt
Why did you leave her to come here?
human
Where is she now?
gpt
Is she really lame?
human
Yes.
gpt
Very?
human
It is hip disease.
gpt
But--but that can be cured! he exclaimed.
human
It is now perfectly curable. Why doesn't she go to Vienna or to New York----
gpt
She is going.
human
She ought to lose no time!
gpt
She is going. She only learned the nature of her trouble very recently.
human
You mean she has been lame all this time and didn't know what threatened her?
gpt
She was--too busy to ask. Finally, because she did not get well, she called in a physician. But she is a very determined girl; she refused to believe what the physician told her--until--very recently----
human
See here, he said,
gpt
Constant.
human
Then tell her you know me. Tell her how terribly sorry I am. Tell--tell her that I'll do anything to--to--tell her, he burst out excitedly,
gpt
Wait! she exclaimed.
human
Do you realise what you're saying? Do you realise what you're offering to do for a girl--a lame girl--who is already in love with you?
gpt
By gad, he said,
human
You--in love?
gpt
Oh, yes, he said with a pleasant sort of hopelessness,
human
W-why do you think so?
gpt
He comes to see her.
human
Is that a reason?
gpt
She won't talk about him.
human
When a woman won't talk about a man is it always because she cares for him in _that_ way?
gpt
Isn't it?
human
No.
gpt
I've been all kinds of a fool. For all I know women have as many rights on earth as men have. All I wish is that the plucky girl who took that hedge, banner in hand, were well and happy and married to a really decent fellow.
human
But--she loves you.
gpt
And I --he looked up, encountering her blue eyes--
human
God knows. . . . I can not blame you for not wishing to marry a lame girl----
gpt
It isn't that!
human
But you wouldn't anyhow----
gpt
I would if I loved her!
human
You _couldn't_--love a--a cripple! It would not be love; it would be pity----
gpt
I wish that _you_ were that lame girl. Then you'd understand me.
human
I am going to say good-night. . . . And thank you--for Diana's sake. . . . And I am going to say more--I am going to say good-bye.
gpt
Good-bye! Where are you going?
human
To New York.
gpt
When?
human
Before I see you again.
gpt
There is no train until----
human
I shall drive to Moss Centre.
gpt
Where that--that doctor lives----
human
Yes. I am going to New York with him, Lord Marque.
gpt
I think I understand, he said quietly.
human
And--I wish you--happiness.
gpt
I--wish it--to you---- suddenly her voice broke; again her teeth caught at her underlip like a child who struggles with emotion.
human
You--_don't_ understand, she said.
gpt
Wait a little while before you--come to any--unhappy--conclusions.