human
If you please, Frau Countess, her Excellency is not at home,
gpt
I know that the Countess is at home; and if she is not, I will wait for her.
human
The fairy, said Countess Lenzdorff, awaking.
gpt
Poor Friedrich! he is doing what he can, but there is nothing for it but to put the best face upon the matter.
human
That wretch! she exclaimed.
gpt
I believe he was about to use personal violence to detain me!
human
Since I ordered him to deny me to every one, he only did his duty, although he may have failed in the manner of its performance,
gpt
But he ought to have known that I was an exception,
human
Yes, he ought to have known. And now tell me what you have on your mind, for I see by your bonnet's being all awry that you have not engaged in a duel with that simpleton Friedrich without some special cause.
gpt
Ah, yes! Countess Brock groaned.
human
I have a request--an audacious request--to make, and you must not refuse me.
gpt
We shall see. Is it fifty yards of red flannel for your association for the relief of rheumatic old women?
human
Oh, if it were only that I should have no doubt of your assent,--every one knows how generous you are; but you have certain whims. The wicked fairy's smile was sourly sweet:
gpt
I begged Goswyn to prefer my request, for I know how much you like him, and that you would not willingly refuse him anything; but he would not do it. He behaves so queerly to me.
human
Tell me what you mean, without any further preliminaries. I am curious to know what the matter is with which Goswyn will have nothing to do.
gpt
It is about my next Thursday,--no, not the next, I shall simply skip that, but the one after the next,--which, under the circumstances, ought to be particularly brilliant. I want to have tableaux, and two of the greatest beauties in Berlin have promised to help me,--Dorothea Sydow and Constance Mühlberg,
human
H'm! that is magnificent,
gpt
Well, yes; but every one knows them by heart, and I want to show the Berlin folk something new. In short, I have come to the conclusion that the great attraction for my next evening reception must be your enchanting grand-daughter,