human
Well, David, what do you propose to do? After you have seduced another man's wife and branded Elizabeth with a--a dreadful name--
gpt
You must not use such words to me! I will not listen to words that soil your lips and my ears! Will you leave this room or shall I?
human
Answer my question first: what do you mean to do after you have taken Elizabeth?
gpt
I shall marry her, of course. He will divorce her, and we shall be married. He was trembling with indignation:
human
I will not submit to this questioning, he said. He got up and opened the door.
gpt
Will you leave me, please?
human
Wait. You must listen. You owe it to me to listen.
gpt
I owe it to myself not to listen to such words as you used a moment ago.
human
I won't repeat them, she said,
gpt
You drag me into an abominable position in making me even defend myself. But I will defend myself. I will explain to you that, as things are, Elizabeth cannot get a divorce from Blair Maitland. But if she leaves him for me, he will divorce her; and we can marry.
human
Perhaps he will not divorce her.
gpt
You mean out of revenge? I doubt if even he could be such a brute as that.
human
There have been such brutes.
gpt
Very well; then we will do without his divorce! We will do without the respectability that you think so much of.
human
Nobody can do without it very long, she said, mildly.
gpt
But we won't argue about respectability; and I won't even ask you whether you will marry her, if she gets her divorce.
human
No, he said.
gpt
I should hardly think that even you would venture to ask me such a question!
human
I will only ask you, my son, if you have thought how you would smirch her name by such a process of getting possession of her?
gpt
Oh, he said, despairingly,
human
Have you considered that you will ruin Elizabeth?
gpt
You may call happiness 'ruin,' if you want to, mother. We don't--she and I.
human
I suppose you wouldn't believe me if I told you it wouldn't be happiness?
gpt
Yes, he said;
human
I have pointed out to Elizabeth the fact that though our course will be in accordance with a Law that is infinitely higher than the laws that you think so much of, there will be, as you say, people to throw mud at her.
gpt
A 'higher law,' she said, slowly.
human
I have heard of the 'higher law,' David.
gpt
That Elizabeth will obey it for me, that she is willing to expose herself to the contempt of little minds, makes me adore her! And I am willing, I love her enough, to accept her sacrifice--
human
Though you did not love her enough to accept the trifling matter of her money?
gpt
God knows I believe it is for her happiness,
human
David, she said,
gpt
Mother, that sort of talk means nothing to me; and apparently my reason for my course means nothing to you. I can't make you understand--
human
I don't need you to make me understand, she interrupted him;
gpt
Well, it satisfies us, he said, coldly;
human
I wish you wouldn't insist upon discussing it, mother, you are tired, and--
gpt
Yes, I am tired, she said, with a gasp.
human
David, if you will promise me not to speak to Elizabeth of this until you and I can talk it over quietly--
gpt
Elizabeth and I are going away together, to-morrow.
human
You shall not do it!
gpt
I must remind you, he said,
human
he interrupted himself,
gpt
The animals know that law, she said. He would not hear her:
human
That unspeakable scoundrel stole her; he stole her just as much as if he had drugged her and kidnapped her. Yes; I take my own!