human
Did you call me, Clover?
gpt
Yes; come in.
human
I didn’t mean to disturb you.
gpt
Oh, I can’t go to sleep. I don’t want to.
human
Something did happen, then?
gpt
Yes, it is all right,
human
What do you mean by that?
gpt
He does love me!
human
Of course; but, Clover, surely you don’t love him!
gpt
With every throb,
human
Dearest, please don’t,
gpt
I must, sobbed the other.
human
Oh, why did we ever see him! You are all I have in the world. I hate anybody who takes you away from me.
gpt
Nobody can, dear. You know that, returned Clover, distressed by this rare flood. She slipped her arm around the recumbent form, and interspersed her words with loving pats.
human
I am so disappointed, Milly. I thought you would be as happy as I am.
gpt
I am never as happy as you are, answered the other.
human
I know this is abominable, but I’ve got to be selfish this once. I’m just envious and miserable, Clover. Why should you always be blessing people and I never? My heart is heavy, and it hurts me all the time.
gpt
My poor darling, I am so sorry, she said feelingly,
human
Then Jack has told you?
gpt
Yes. Shouldn’t you prefer to have him go away?
human
No, not unless he wishes it. I would rather he stayed.
gpt
Things will come right for you, dearest. They always do when one is trying to live up to her standards, and to do the best she knows how. Perhaps I have made you feel that even I thought you ought to marry him. If I have, please forgive me for adding to the cruelty of your position. I ought to have known that you would be glad, too, if it could have been Jack.
human
Let us forgive mutually, she said, wiping her eyes.
gpt
I am mortally ashamed of myself for bothering you at such a time. Wait till to-morrow morning and see me redeem my character by my treatment of that—thief! She stooped and kissed her sister passionately.
human
Why should I blame him, when I know that I would not look at any woman but you if I were a man? What a lot of trouble it would have saved me, by the way!
gpt
I don’t know, returned the other with a smile.
human
You see I should have been forced to refuse you.
gpt
That is just like saying you love him better than me,
human
No, no; only better than that man you were going to be.
gpt
Well, said Mildred, shrugging her shoulder in a characteristic gesture,
human
I rather think I should enjoy the refreshing change of being refused once or twice. As for you,—as if I should mind your refusal! I should simply kidnap you.