human
Blair, I have something to say to you before you go. Be at my office at the Works at ten-fifteen. She looked at him amiably, then pushed back her chair.
gpt
Nannie! Get my bonnet. Come! Hurry! I'm late!
human
Oh, Mamma, she said softly,
gpt
Harris! she called loudly,
human
Thank Heaven! I'm going off to-day. I wish I need never come back,
gpt
Oh, Blair, that is a dreadful thing to say!
human
It may be dreadful, but that's the way I feel. I can't help my feelings, can I? The further mother and I are apart, the better we love each other. Well! I suppose I've got to go and see her bossing a lot of men, instead of sitting at home, like a lady;--and I'll get a dreadful blowing up. Of course she knows about the engagement now, thanks to Elizabeth's craziness.
gpt
I don't believe she knows anything about it,
human
Oh, you bet old Ferguson has told her, Blair said, gloomily.
gpt
Say, Nannie, if Elizabeth doesn't look out she'll get into awful hot water one of these days with her devil of a temper--and she'll get other people into it, too, he ended resentfully. Blair hated hot water, as he hated everything that was unbeautiful.
human
Mother is going to take my head off, of course,
gpt
He ought to start at the bottom, if he is ever to get to the top, Ferguson had barked. No, Blair need not start at the bottom; he could begin pretty well up at the top; and he should have a salary. What an incentive that would be! First she would tell him that now, when he was going to college, she meant to increase his allowance; then she would tell him about the salary he would have when he got to work. How happy he would be! For a boy to be in love, and have all the pocket-money he wanted, and a great business to look forward to; to have work--work! the finest thing in the world!--all ready to his hand,--what more could a human being desire? At the office, she swept through the morning business with a speed that took her people off their feet. Once or twice she glanced at the clock; Blair was always unpunctual.
human
He'll get _that_ knocked out of him when he gets into business,
gpt
Well, Master Blair, she said to herself, flinging down her pen,
human
You're late, she said; then, without stopping for his excuses, she proceeded with the business in hand.
gpt
I'm going to increase your allowance.
human
I mean while you're at college. After that I shall stop the allowance entirely, and you will go to work. You will go on a salary, like any other man.
gpt
Why! he said.
human
You are awfully good, Mother. Really, I--
gpt
I know all about this business of your engagement to Elizabeth, Mrs. Maitland broke in,
human
There was something in her voice that would have betrayed her to any other hearer; but Blair, who was sensitive to Mrs. Richie's slightest wish, and careful of old Cherry-pie's comfort, and generously thoughtful even of Harris--Blair, absorbed in his own apprehensions, heard no pain in his mother's voice.
gpt
I know all about it, Mrs. Maitland went on.
human
I won't have you call yourselves engaged until you are out of college, of course. But I have no objection to your looking forward to being engaged, and married, too. It's a good thing for a young man to expect to be married; keeps him clean.