human
Uncle Richard has been a widower for fifteen years, he said.
gpt
He is scarcely over fifty years old. Aren’t you unreasonable to resent his marrying?
human
What more appropriate, continued his cousin,
gpt
The lady hasn’t any children. What a pity you can’t see her! She is a little girl who went to school with me at home; and she has an invalid mother, some younger sisters, and a brother on her hands.
human
As they have nothing in the world, they have roped father in.
gpt
That’s bad! admitted the older man with some sympathetic disgust.
human
Then you have quarreled with Uncle Richard, for of course you attempted to dissuade him.
gpt
Not at all. I arrived home to find the engagement a fixed fact and all the parties satisfied. What was there to be done?
human
You didn’t come away without saying anything?
gpt
No, no. I wouldn’t do that, and I believe that in place of anything else to be proud of, I shall always be proud of having had some self-control in that last interview with father. I knew all the time, hot and angry as I was, that if I said to him what I felt, I should repent of hurting him all my life. He is the noblest man, the best father, that ever lived.
human
I’m glad to hear you say that, he rejoined heartily.
gpt
You are right, I know. Uncle Richard is one man in a thousand, and it would be easy enough to believe that even a young girl might feel a deep and romantic attachment for him.
human
You are all off again. Say all you like in praise of father, but
gpt
But why be prejudiced? suggested Page hopefully.
human
This Miss—Miss
gpt
Bryant.
human
Why should you, on the circumstantial evidence of her family’s need, decide that she is only mercenary? Perhaps she loves
gpt
And perhaps she doesn’t, interrupted Jack impatiently.
human
She says she doesn’t.
gpt
What?
human
Yes, Clover is a very honest girl, and she was good enough to inform me of the neutral state of her affections.
gpt
Well, well! I must say Uncle Richard is beginning to puzzle me. He has seen this girl grow up. Is she so irresistibly beautiful?
human
What an idea! No. My father puzzles me too, I assure you, but I must believe he loves her, and in the face of that, Gorham, Van Tassel looked up with strong feeling in face and voice,