human
What made you catch your breath when I told my name that night I came? he asked quizzically, but with a tensity behind the lightness of his tone and behind the little smile in his eyes as well.
gpt
Where had you ever heard of me before?
human
When I was a kid I ran across the name--somewhere--and I used it to play with--
gpt
Yes?
human
You know--I was always making believe different things. I never had anyone to play with in my life, so I had a pretend-girl, named Minervy. And I had you. I used to have you rescue us from Indians and things, but mostly you were a road-agent or a robber, and when you weren't holding me or Minervy for ransom, I was generally leading you over some most ungodly trails, saving you from posses and things. I used, said Billy Louise, forcing a laugh,
gpt
Yes--and what about--understanding all about it? Do you? He drew in his under lip, let it go, and drew it again between his teeth, while he frowned at her thoughtfully.
human
Do you understand all about it?
gpt
I--well, I--do--some of it anyway. Billy Louise lifted a hand spasmodically to her throat. This was digging deeper into the agonies of life than she had ever gone before.
human
What was in the paper,
gpt
What was that? What did it say?
human
I--I--what difference does it make, what it said? Billy Louise turned imploring eyes upon him. Her breath was coming fast and uneven.
gpt
It doesn't matter--to me--in the least. It--didn't say much. I--can't tell exactly--
human
I didn't know there was a woman in the world like you, Ward said irrelevantly and looked into the fire.
gpt
I thought women were just soft things a man had to take care of and carry along through life, a dead weight when they weren't worse. I never knew a woman could be a friend--the kind of friend a man can be.
human
Life's a queer thing, he said, taking a different angle.
gpt
I started out with big notions about the things I'd do. Maybe I started wrong, but for a kid with nobody to point the trail for him, I don't think I did so worse--till old Dame Fortune spotted me in the crowd and proceeded to use me for a football. He leaned an elbow on one knee and stared hard at a burning brand that was getting ready to fall and send up a stream of sparks. Then he turned his head quite unexpectedly and looked at Billy Louise.
human
What was it you read?
gpt
I--don't like to--say it,
human
Well, you needn't. I'll say it for you, when I come to it. There's a lot before that.
gpt
Oh, don't! she gasped.
human
Don't go on telling--I--I can't bear to listen to that!
gpt
It isn't nice for a woman to listen to, I guess, Ward gritted.
human
I know it was hell to stand, but--
gpt
Skip that part and tell me--