human
Sibyl will be delighted to see you, continued Mrs. Ogilvie.
gpt
She has been, on the whole, behaving very nicely. Of course, making both friends and foes, as is her usual impetuous way.
human
That reminds me, said Ogilvie.
gpt
I shall see Sibyl before I leave; but that reminds me.
human
Of what?
gpt
I do not wish her to be told.
human
Told what? What do you mean? My dear Phil, you are eccentric.
gpt
I have no time to dispute the point, Mildred. I wish to give one hasty direction, which is to be obeyed. Sibyl is not to be told that I am going to Australia.
human
What, never?
gpt
She must be told when I am gone, but not till then. I will write to her, and thus break the news. She is not to be told to-day, not until she gets home, you understand? I won't go at all if you tell her.
human
Oh, of course, I understand, said Mrs. Ogilvie, in a frightened way;
gpt
I do not wish it. Now, have you anything further to say, for I must see Lord Grayleigh immediately.
human
You will leave me plenty of money when you go, will you not?
gpt
You shall have a bank-book and an account, but you must be careful. My affairs are not in the most prosperous condition, and your bills are terribly heavy.
human
My bills! but I really----
gpt
We will not dispute them. They shall be paid before I go.
human
Oh, my dear Philip, and you are not angry?
gpt
They shall be paid, Mildred. The liquidation of your debts is part of the reward for taking up this loathsome work.
human
Philip, how ridiculously morbid you are!
gpt
There is Lord Grayleigh, he said.
human
I must go at once. Yes, the bills will be paid.
gpt
There is nothing else, is there, Mildred?
human
No,
gpt
What more?
human
A trinket, it took my fancy--a diamond cross--you noticed it. I could not resist it.
gpt
How much?
human
Two thousand pounds.
gpt
Let me have the bill to-morrow at latest. It shall be cleared. Now don't keep me.
human
This is good, said the nobleman.
gpt
I am very sorry I could not come to town. Yes, my ankle is better, but I dare not use it. I am limping, as you see.
human
Shall we go into the house? said Ogilvie;
gpt
I want to get this thing over. I have not a moment if I am to start on Saturday.
human
You must do what we want. The public are impatient. We must get your report as soon as possible. You will wire it to us, of course.
gpt
That depends.
human
Now listen, Ogilvie, said Lord Grayleigh, as they both entered the study of the latter and Ogilvie sank into a chair,
gpt
Can I? I thought the die was cast.
human
The worldly man in me echoes that hope, but I _could_ get Atherton to take your place even now.
gpt
Even now?
human
Even now it may be possible to manage it, although I