human
Well?
gpt
Well
human
You tell me she is here?
gpt
She is in this house, said I,
human
But this is what I cannot understand the least, said James.
gpt
My daughter was placed into the charge of some responsible persons, whose names I have forgot.
human
Gebbie was the name, said I;
gpt
I shall have a word to say to Mr. Gebbie before done, said he.
human
As for yourself, I think it might have occurred that you were somewhat young for such a post.
gpt
But the choice was not between me and somebody else, it was between me and nobody, I cried.
human
Nobody offered in my place, and I must say I think you show a very small degree of gratitude to me that did.
gpt
I shall wait until I understand my obligation a little more in the particular,
human
Indeed, and I think it stares you in the face, then, said I.
gpt
Your child was deserted, she was clean flung away in the midst of Europe, with scarce two shillings, and not two words of any language spoken there: I must say, a bonny business! I brought her to this place. I gave her the name and the tenderness due to a sister. All this has not gone without expense, but that I scarce need to hint at. They were services due to the young lady's character which I respect; and I think it would be a bonny business too, if I was to be singing her praises to her father.
human
You are a young man,
gpt
So I hear you tell me,
human
You are a very young man, he repeated,
gpt
I think you speak very much at your ease, cried I.
human
What else was I to do? It is a fact I might have hired some decent, poor woman to be a third to us, and I declare I never thought of it until this moment! But where was I to find her, that am a foreigner myself? And let me point out to your observation, Mr. Drummond, that it would have cost me money out of my pocket. For here is just what it comes to, that I had to pay through the nose for your neglect; and there is only the one story to it, just that you were so unloving and so careless as to have lost your daughter.
gpt
He that lives in a glass house should not be casting stones, says he;
human
But I will be entrapped into no such attitude, said I.
gpt
The character of Miss Drummond is far above inquiry, as her father ought to know. So is mine, and I am telling you that. There are but the two ways of it open. The one is to express your thanks to me as one gentleman to another, and to say no more. The other (if you are so difficult as to be still dissatisfied) is to pay me that which I have expended and be done.
human
There, there, said he.
gpt
You go too fast, you go too fast, Mr. Balfour. It is a good thing that I have learned to be more patient. And I believe you forget that I have yet to see my daughter.
human
I was thinking it would be more fit--if you will excuse the plainness of my dressing in your presence--that I should go forth and leave you to encounter her alone?
gpt
What I would have looked for at your hands!