human
Sally, said Fox,
gpt
I understand that you are an heiress.
human
Oh, she exclaimed,
gpt
I hope not! Who told you?
human
Dick Torrington. He is the executor.
gpt
Oh, Fox! she cried. She seemed dismayed.
human
And Dick knows. But Patty will never forgive me. Can't I help it?
gpt
No doubt, he replied, smiling,
human
I'll give it to you, you mercenary man! At last, Fox, I can get even with you--but only partly, she hastened to add;
gpt
Bless you, Sally! he said. At that moment, he was very near to heeding Mrs. Ladue's injunction not to wait too long. He stopped in time.
human
Bless you, Sally! You have paid me. I don't need money anyway.
gpt
Neither do I.
human
The time may come when you will. It is a handy thing to have, he went on.
gpt
I promise to let you pay me some day, he added hastily, seeing that she was about to insist,
human
I'll do it, she said,
gpt
Not this time, it doesn't. But I can't let you think of giving me these places.
human
You can't help my thinking of giving them to you,
gpt
For you don't even know what they are, Fox continued.
human
I didn't mean to tell you yet, but I have to.
gpt
It's too bad that I can't give them to you, Fox. I think it would be a very good way; an excellent way.
human
Excellent?
gpt
Yes, excellent, Sally answered, looking at him and smiling in her amused way.
human
Why isn't it?
gpt
Nonsense! It's absurd; preposterous. It's positively shocking. Sally, I'm surprised at you.
human
No, she said obstinately,
gpt
But Sanderson's Retreat would be open to you in any case, Fox protested.
human
You would not have to hire a hearse. It is my business to prevent such excursions. Have I ever failed you, Sally?
gpt
Oh, Fox, never. There were tears in her eyes as she got up quickly and almost ran to him.
human
Never, never, Fox. That is why, don't you see? I want to do something for you, Fox. You have done so much for me--for us.
gpt
Oh, Sally, Sally! he said ruefully.
human
You don't know. You don't know.
gpt
Well, Sally replied impatiently, after she had waited in vain for some moments for him to finish,
human
You come near enough to it, he returned, as if speaking to himself. He was looking down, as he spoke, into great gray eyes which, somehow, were very soft and tender. He looked away.
gpt
Sometime you will know.
human
Everything?
gpt
Everything that is worth knowing, he answered gently.
human
Yes, everything that is worth knowing,