human
I am to be alone?
gpt
Oh, yes. There is a cabin for Madame Melmotte and the maid, and a cabin for you. Everything will be comfortable. And there is another lady going,--Mrs. Hurtle,--whom I think you will like.
human
Has she a husband?
gpt
Not going with us,
human
But she has one?
gpt
Well, yes;--but you had better not mention him. He is not exactly all that a husband should be.
human
Did she not come over here to marry some one else?
gpt
There is a story, and I dare say I shall tell you all about it some day. But you may be sure I should not ask you to associate with any one you ought not to know.
human
Oh,--I can take care of myself.
gpt
No doubt, Miss Melmotte,--no doubt. I feel that quite strongly. But what I meant to observe was this,--that I certainly should not introduce a lady whom I aspire to make my own lady to any lady whom a lady oughtn't to know. I hope I make myself understood, Miss Melmotte.
human
Oh, quite.
gpt
And perhaps I may go on to say that if I could go on board that ship as your accepted lover, I could do a deal more to make you comfortable, particularly when you land, than just as a mere friend, Miss Melmotte. You can't doubt my heart.
human
I don't see why I shouldn't. Gentlemen's hearts are things very much to be doubted as far as I've seen 'em. I don't think many of 'em have 'em at all.
gpt
Miss Melmotte, you do not know the glorious west. Your past experiences have been drawn from this effete and stone-cold country in which passion is no longer allowed to sway. On those golden shores which the Pacific washes man is still true,--and woman is still tender.
human
Perhaps I'd better wait and see, Mr. Fisker.
gpt
And then, said he, pleading his cause not without skill,
human
Ah;--I shall find out all about it, I suppose, when I've been there a few months.
gpt
But you would enter San Francisco, Miss Melmotte, under such much better auspices,--if I may be allowed to say so,--as a married lady or as a lady just going to be married.
human
Ain't single ladies much thought of in California?
gpt
It isn't that. Come, Miss Melmotte, you know what I mean.
human
Yes, I do.
gpt
Let us go in for life together. We've both done uncommon well. I'm spending 30,000 dollars a year,--at that rate,--in my own house. You'll see it all. If we put them both together,--what's yours and what's mine,--we can put our foot out as far as about any one there, I guess.
human
I don't know that I care about putting my foot out. I've seen something of that already, Mr. Fisker. You shouldn't put your foot out farther than you can draw it in again.
gpt
You needn't fear me as to that, Miss Melmotte. I shouldn't be able to touch a dollar of your money. It would be such a triumph to go into Francisco as man and wife.
human
I shouldn't think of being married till I had been there a while and looked about me.
gpt
And seen the house! Well;--there's something in that. The house is all there, I can tell you. I'm not a bit afraid but what you'll like the house. But if we were engaged, I could do every thing for you. Where would you be, going into San Francisco all alone? Oh, Miss Melmotte, I do admire you so much!
human
I'll tell you how it must be then,
gpt
How shall it be?
human
Not like that, Mr. Fisker, she said, withdrawing herself.
gpt
It shall be in this way. You may consider yourself engaged to me.
human
I'm the happiest man on this continent,
gpt
But if I find when I get to Francisco anything to induce me to change my mind, I shall change it. I like you very well, but I'm not going to take a leap in the dark, and I'm not going to marry a pig in a poke.
human
There you're quite right, he said,--
gpt
You may give it out on board the ship that we're engaged, and I'll tell Madame Melmotte the same. She and Croll don't mean going any farther than New York.
human
We needn't break our hearts about that;--need we?
gpt
It don't much signify. Well;--I'll go on with Mrs. Hurtle, if she'll have me.
human
Too much delighted she'll be.
gpt
And she shall be told we're engaged.
human
My darling!
gpt
But if I don't like it when I get to Frisco, as you call it, all the ropes in California shan't make me do it. Well;--yes; you may give me a kiss I suppose now if you care about it.