human
It will be my delight, the old man was saying, his hollow cheeks faintly flushed,
gpt
As it is, said Harlan, taking up the wandering thread of the discourse,
human
It would be a solace to me, rejoined the old gentleman, tremulously,
gpt
I should imagine so, said Harlan, kindly,
human
A much-misunderstood gentleman, continued Mr. Bradford, carefully wiping his spectacles.
gpt
My grief is too recent, at present, to enable me to discourse freely of his many virtues, but at some future time I shall hope to make you acquainted with your benefactor. He was my Colonel, and in serving under him in the war, I had an unusual opportunity to know him as he really was. May I ask, without intruding upon your private affairs, whether or not it is your intention to reside here permanently?
human
We have not made up our minds, responded Harlan.
gpt
We shall stay here this Summer, anyway, as I have some work to do which can be done only in a quiet place.
human
Quiet! muttered the old gentleman,
gpt
Yes, put in Dorothy,
human
His book! repeated Mr. Bradford, in genuine astonishment.
gpt
Am I actually addressing an author?
human
A would-be author only, laughed Harlan, the colour mounting to his temples.
gpt
I've done newspaper work heretofore, and now I'm going to try something else.
human
My dear sir, said Mr. Bradford, rising,
gpt
I must really beg the privilege of clasping your hand. It is a great honour for Judson Centre to have an author residing in its midst!
human
We hope it may be, she observed, lightly,
gpt
I shall be delighted, my dear madam. Any knowledge I may possess is trebly at your service, for the sake of the distinguished author whose wife you have the honour to be, for the sake of your departed relative, who was my friend, my Colonel, and last, but not least, for your own sake.
human
It is only about a maid,
gpt
A ---- my dear madam, I beg your pardon?
human
A maid, repeated Dorothy;
gpt
Oh! A hired girl, or more accurately, in the parlance of Judson Centre, the help. Do I understand that it is your desire to become an employer of help?
human
It is, answered Dorothy, somewhat awed by the solemnity of his tone,
gpt
If I might be permitted to suggest, replied Mr. Bradford, after due deliberation,
human
I should unhesitatingly recommend Mrs. Sarah Smithers, who did for your uncle during the entire period of his residence here and whose privilege it was to close his eyes in his last sleep. She is at present without prospect of a situation, and I believe would be very ready to accept a new position, especially so desirable a position as this, in your service.
gpt
Thank you. Could you--could you send her to me?
human
I shall do so, most assuredly, providing she is willing to come, and should she chance not to be agreeably disposed toward so pleasing a project, it will be my happiness to endeavour to persuade her. Drawing out a memorandum book and a pencil, the old gentleman made an entry upon a fresh page.
gpt
The multitudinous duties in connection with the practice of my profession, he began--
human
I am greatly obliged,
gpt
And now, continued the visitor,
human
I must go. I fear I have already outstayed the limitation of a formal visit, such as the first should be, and it is not my desire to intrude upon an author's time. Moreover, my own duties, slight and unimportant as they are in comparison, must ultimately press upon my attention.
gpt
Come again,
human
It will be my great pleasure, rejoined the guest,