human
Oh, my beloved brother, changed must you indeed be, when even the admission that you are unhappy, inspires me with a thankfulness such as I now feel. Gerald, I entreat, I implore, you by the love we have borne each other from infancy to disguise nothing from me. Tell me what it is that weighs so heavily at your heart. Repose implicit confidence in me, your brother, and let me assist and advise you in your extremity, as my poor ability will permit. Tell me Gerald, wherefore are you thus altered-- what dreadful disappointment has thus turned the milk of your nature into gall?
gpt
If YOU have found the milk of my nature turned into gall, then indeed am I even more wretched than I thought myself. But, Henry, you ask me what I cannot yield--my confidence--and, even were it so, the yielding would advantage neither. I am unhappy, as I have said, but the cause of that unhappiness must ever remain buried here,
human
Enough, Gerald, and his brother spoke in tones of deep reproach,
gpt
I do not understand you--what mean you?
human
You cannot well be ignorant of my meaning, pursued Henry in the same tone,
gpt
I am still in the dark,
human
Because you know not that I am acquainted with all that took place on the melancholy occasion. Gerald, he pursued,
gpt
Nay, my good brother, and Gerald made an attempt at levity,
human
All this, Gerald, you might, yet would not say; because, in saying it, would have to charge yourself with a gross insincerity, and although you do not deem me worthy to share your confidence, I still have pleasure in knowing that my affection will not be repaid with deceit--however plausible the motives for its adoption may appear--by the substitution in short, of that which is not for that which is.
gpt
A gross insincerity?
human
Yes, my brother--I say it not in anger, nor in reproach.-- but a gross insincerity it would certainly be. Alas, Gerald, your motives are but too well known to me. The danger you incurred was incurred wilfully, wantonly, and with a view to your own destruction.
gpt
And HOW knew you this,
human
Even, Gerald, as I know that you have been driven to seek in wine that upbearing against the secret grief which consumes you, which should be found alone in the fortitude of a strong mind, and the consciousness of an untainted honor. Oh, Gerald, had these been your supporters, you never would have steeped your reason so far in forgetfulness, as to have dared what you did on that eventful day. Good Heaven! how little did I ever expect to see the brother of my love degenerated so far as to border on the character of the drunkard and the suicide.