human
How do you do, Miss Ledstone? You've come to tell me something?
gpt
Yes. Amy Ledstone was neither cool nor self-possessed. Her voice trembled violently; it was an evident effort for her not to break into sobbing.
human
He--he still loves you; he told me to tell you that.
gpt
Told you to tell me! Isn't that rather odd?--After all our--well, he's been able to tell me for himself before. Won't you sit down?
human
No, thank you. But he can't bear to see you; he can't trust himself. He told me to say that. He said you'd understand--that you had a--an understanding. Only he couldn't bear to say good-bye.
gpt
He's not coming back?
human
He was really rather seedy on Sunday--so he stayed. And--and on Sunday night mother had a bad attack; we were really alarmed.
gpt
Mother had been with him all day--she wouldn't leave him. I suppose she got over-tired, and there was the strain of--of the situation; and daddy--my father--broke out on Godfrey the next morning; and I'd broken out on him Christmas night.
human
You?
gpt
Yes, I told him he must choose. He really made love to Mabel all the time. So I told him----
human
I see. She smiled faintly.
gpt
The poor boy can't have had a pleasant Christmas, Miss Ledstone!
human
We were all at him, all three of us! She stretched out her hands suddenly.
gpt
Do try to understand that he had something to bear too. And that we had--thinking as we do about it. It was hard for other people besides you. Father's getting old, and Godfrey's all mother and I----
human
I haven't said a word against him or any of you. He had a right to do what he has done, though he's done it in a way I didn't think he'd choose.
gpt
He doesn't trust himself, and mother--oh!
human
Mother! Yes! What a lot of things there are to think of! I had just made up my mind to take him right away from all of you, to take him abroad. I could have done it if I'd found him here. Perhaps I could do it still--I wonder?
gpt
I might write letters too--as you used to--and contrive secret meetings. He's said nothing about Miss Thurseley to me--I don't suppose he'd say anything about me to Miss Thurseley. But he'd meet me all the same, I think. That seems to be his way; only before your last visit I didn't know it.
human
Indeed he won't think of Mabel--not for a long while. He's so--so broken up.
gpt
Mother begged and prayed me to--to try and persuade you----
human
To let him alone? I suppose she would. She thinks I've done all the harm? As far as he's concerned, I suppose I have. If we'd gone about it in the ordinary way, he really needn't have suffered at all.