human
How annoying it is, said she,
gpt
Certainly not,
human
I must send you back, and I am so sorry.
gpt
And so am I--I am very sorry to be obliged to go, and to lose this last day, which I had hoped to pass with you. However, since it must be, I will come tomorrow to inquire after your sister.
human
She will see you herself, to-morrow; I repeat it is nothing serious. But do not run away in such a hurry, pray; will you not spare me a little quarter of an hour's conversation? I want to speak to you; sit down there, and now listen to me well. My sister and I had intended this evening, after dinner, to blockade you into a little corner of the drawing-room, and then she meant to tell you what I am going to try to say for us both.
gpt
But I am a little nervous. Do not laugh; it is a very serious matter. We wish to thank you for having been, ever since our arrival here, so good to us both.
human
Oh, Miss Percival, pray, it is I who--
gpt
Oh, do not interrupt me, you will quite confuse me. I do not know how to get through with it. I maintain, besides, that the thanks are due from us, not from you. We arrived here two strangers. We have been fortunate enough immediately to find friends. Yes, friends. You have taken us by the hand, you have led us to our farmers, to our keepers; while your godfather took us to his poor--and everywhere you were so much beloved that from their confidence in you, they began, on your recommendation, to like us a little. You are adored about here; do you know that?
human
I was born here--all these good people have known me from my infancy, and are grateful to me for what my grandfather and father did for them; and then I am of their race, the race of the peasants; my great- grandfather was a laborer at Bargecourt, a village two miles from here.
gpt
Oh! oh! you appear very proud of that!
human
Neither proud nor ashamed.
gpt
I beg your pardon, you made a little movement of pride. Well, I can tell you that my mother's great-grandfather was a farmer in Brittany. He went to Canada at the end of the last century, when Canada was still French. And you love very much this place where you were born?
human
Very much. Perhaps I shall soon be obliged to leave it.
gpt
Why?
human
When I get promotion, I shall have to exchange into another regiment, and I shall wander from garrison to garrison; but certainly, when I am an old commandant or old colonel, on half-pay, I shall come back, and live and die here, in the little house that was my father's.
gpt
Always quite alone?
human
Why quite alone? I certainly hope not.
gpt
You intend to marry?
human
Yes, certainly.
gpt
You are trying to marry?
human
No; one may think of marrying, but one ought not to try to marry.
gpt
And yet there are people who do try. Come, I can answer for that, and you even; people have wished to marry you.
human
How do you know that?
gpt
Oh! I know all your little affairs so well; you are what they call a good match, and I repeat it, they have wished to marry you.
human
Who told you that?
gpt
Monsieur le Cure.
human
Then he was very wrong,
gpt
No, no, he was not wrong. If any one has been to blame it is I. I soon discovered that your godfather was never so happy as when he was speaking of you. So when I was alone with him during our walks, to please him I talked of you, and he related your history to me. You are well off; you are very well off; from Government you receive every month two hundred and thirteen francs and some centimes; am I correct?
human
Yes,
gpt
You have eight thousand francs' income?
human
Nearly, not quite.
gpt
Add to that your house, which is worth thirty thousand francs. You are in an excellent position, and people have asked your hand.
human
Asked my hand! No, no.
gpt
They have, they have, twice, and you have refused two very good marriages, two very good fortunes, if you prefer it--it is the same thing for so many people. Two hundred thousand francs in the one, three hundred thousand in the other case. It appears that these fortunes are enormous for the country! Yet you have refused! Tell me why.
human
Well, it concerned two charming young girls.
gpt
That is understood. One always says that.
human
But whom I scarcely knew. They forced me--for I did resist--they forced me to spend two or three evenings with them last winter.
gpt
And then?
human
Then--I don't quite know how to explain it to you. I did not feel the slightest touch of embarrassment, emotion, anxiety, or disturbance--
gpt
In fact, said Bettina, resolutely,
human
No, not the least, and I returned quite calmly to my bachelor den, for I think it is better not to marry than to marry without love.
gpt
And I think so, too.