human
Handsome and clever? she repeated.
gpt
Is _that_ all you can say, Mr. Fleming? When you set about it, I think you might provide a little better food for one's parental sentiment. I suppose you will go and tell Mrs. Walker that _her_ dozen and a half are all handsome and clever too!
human
Not so handsome and clever as yours,
gpt
What wretched poverty of expression! Hadria complained.
human
I ask for bread, and truly you give me a stone.
gpt
I--I admire your boys immensely, as you know,
human
Not enough, not enough.
gpt
What can I say more?
human
A mother has to find in her children all that she can hope to find in life, and she naturally desires to make the most of them, don't you see?
gpt
Ah! yes, quite so,
human
Nobody, I suppose, likes to be commonplace all round; one must have some poetry somewhere--so most women idealize their children, and if other people won't help them in the effort, don't you see? it is most discouraging.
gpt
Are you chaffing, or what?
human
No, indeed; I am perilously serious.
gpt
I can well understand how a mother must get absorbed in her children, said Joseph.
human
I suppose it's a sort of natural provision.
gpt
Think of Mrs. Allan with her outrageous eight--all making mud-pies! cried Hadria;
human
Quite so, said Mr. Fleming. Then a little anxious to change the subject:
gpt
Oh, by the way, have you heard that the Priory is really to be inhabited at last? Professor Theobald has almost decided to take it.
human
Really? that will be exciting for Craddock Dene. We shall have another household to dissect and denounce. Providence watches over us all, I verily believe.
gpt
I hope so,
human
Truly I hope so too, Hadria said, no less seriously,