human
And you've a garden?
gpt
The size of a large pocket-handkerchief. I'm not at all rich, you know. But I can just afford my little house and to live without earning a penny.
human
That's my only other servant, Harriet,
gpt
There's something very un-Londony in it all,
human
That's what I try for. I'm fond of London in a way, but I can't bear anything typical of London in my home.
gpt
It is quite a home, she said;
human
I wonder, he said almost reluctantly,
gpt
Do, if you like to.
human
I think I should.
gpt
Do, then.
human
I wonder whether a man is a coward to raise up barriers between himself and life, whether it is a mistake to have a retreat, as you rightly call this room, this house, and to spend the greater part of one's time alone in it? But --he moved restlessly--
gpt
I expect one ought to.
human
Do you? Oh, you're not eating anything!
gpt
I will help myself.
human
Mrs. Shiffney wouldn't agree with you.
gpt
No.
human
Didn't--didn't you see her? She went just before you came.
gpt
I saw someone. I thought it might be Adelaide. I wasn't sure.
human
It was she. I hadn't asked her to come and wasn't expecting her.
gpt
It was wonderfully kind of her to come, though. She is kind and clever, too. She has fascination, I think....
human
I'm sure she has.
gpt
And yet, d'you know, there's something in her, and in lots of people I might get to know, I suppose, through her and Max Elliot, that I--well, I almost hate it.
human
What is it?
gpt
Well, whenever I come across one of them by chance I seem to hear a voice repeating, 'To-morrow we die--to-morrow we die--to-morrow we die.' And I seem to see something inside of them with teeth and claws fastening on pleasure. It's--it's like a sort of minotaur, and it gives me horrors. And yet I might go to it.
human
It's quite true. There is the creature with teeth and claws, and it is, perhaps, horrible. But it's so sad that I scarcely see anything but its sadness.
gpt
You are kinder than I.
human
D'you know, I think you're the kindest human being I ever met, except one, that priest up there on the mantelpiece.
gpt
Forgive me, she said, making allowance for herself to-day because of Heath's evident desire to talk intimately, a desire which she believed she ought to help,
human
Oh, no! I wish I was!
gpt
But I suppose you can't be?
human
Oh, no! I suppose I'm one of those unsatisfactory people whose soul and whose brain are not in accord. That doesn't make for inward calm or satisfaction. But I can only hope for better days.
gpt
They will come, surely! she said.
human
If you are quite sincere, sincere with yourself always and sincere with others as often as is possible.
gpt
You're right about its not being possible to be always sincere with others.
human
They simply wouldn't let you!
gpt
No, he said.
human
I feel as if I could be rather sincere with you sometimes.
gpt
Specially to-day, perhaps.
human
Yes, I think so. We do get on, don't we?
gpt
Yes, we do.
human
I often wonder why. But we do. I'll move the table if you've really finished.