human
H-mph! he said, reading,
gpt
Thanks me for my kind permission, does he? Now, Miss Ladue, can you give me any light upon that? What permission does he refer to? Permission to do what?
human
Oh, he said;
gpt
He read on.
human
I must even have said that he could study with me; that I'd help him. Very thoughtless of me, very thoughtless, indeed! It must have been after--well. And he will be here in the course of three weeks. The professor turned the leaf.
gpt
This was written a month ago. So he's here, is he, Sally?
human
Yes, Sally answered,
gpt
Well, he observed, at last,
human
Oh, yes. Sally seemed to feel that that was too sweeping.
gpt
That is, she added,
human
I--I like him.
gpt
That is satisfactory. You couldn't qualify it, Sally, could you? Tried hard, didn't you?
human
Well, continued the professor,
gpt
I will,
human
Well? asked Sally.
gpt
May I bring Henrietta? You haven't answered that question, father.
human
Dear me! What an incomprehensible omission! I must be getting old and forgetful. Old and forgetful, Sally. It is a state that we all attain if we do not die first.
gpt
Yes, said Sally,
human
I suppose so. May I bring Henrietta, father?
gpt
What a persistent child you are, Sally!
human
I have to be, she replied, trying not to show her disappointment.
gpt
I suppose you mean that you don't want me to bring Henrietta. Well, I won't. Perhaps I may come in some day and hear about the lizard.
human
Oh, bring her, by all means, he cried, with an assumed cheerfulness which would not have deceived you or me. It did not deceive Sally.
gpt
Bring her. He waved his hand inclusively.
human
Bring Henrietta and Margaret Savage and any others you can think of. Bring them all. I shall be pleased--honored.
gpt
Margaret Savage would not be interested, she said in a low voice, without turning her head,
human
Sally, the professor interrupted in cold exasperation,
gpt
Yes, father, I beg your pardon. I said that Margaret Savage wouldn't be interested, she repeated quietly and clearly,
human
Sally!
gpt
Yes, father?
human
Would your friend Henrietta really be interested in--in what she would probably hear?
gpt
Oh, yes, she would. I'm sure she would.
human
Well, then, you may bring her. I shall be glad to have you both when you find leisure. But no Margaret Savages, Sally.
gpt
Oh, no, father. Thank you very much.