human
Bring in tea, the Countess called after him.
gpt
You will take a cup of tea with me, Goswyn?
human
Are you not going to wait for the young Countess?
gpt
Oh, she will not be here before midnight. I don't know why Friedrich has gone at this hour to the station; probably he is in love with the young person at the railway restaurant; else I cannot understand his hurry. However, I thank you for your admonition.
human
But, my dear Countess----
gpt
No need to excuse yourself, she cut short what he was about to say.
human
I am not displeased: you have never displeased me, except by not having arranged matters so as to come into the world as my son. Moreover, I should seriously regret the loss of your good opinion. Pray forgive me for not driving myself to the railway station to meet my grand-daughter and to edify the officials with a touching and effective scene. Consider, this is my last comfortable evening.
gpt
Your last comfortable evening,
human
Now you disapprove of me again,
gpt
Disapprove! he repeated, with an ineffective attempt to laugh at the word.
human
Really, Countess, if I did not know how kind-hearted you are, I should be sorry for your grand-daughter.
gpt
Kind-hearted,--kind-hearted, the old lady murmured, provoked;
human
Yes, you are sorry for my grand-daughter, she said, decidedly,
gpt
Upon that point you must allow me to express myself when I have made acquaintance with the young Countess.
human
That has very little to do with it, rejoined the old lady.
gpt
Let us take it for granted that she is charming. Doctor Herbegg says she is a jewel of the purest water, lacking nothing but a little polish; between ourselves, I do not altogether believe him. He exaggerated my grand-daughter's attractions a little to make it easy for me to receive her. He is a good man, but, like two-thirds of the men who are worth anything, --with a significant side-glance at Sydow,--
human
--the Countess Lenzdorff was wont frequently to designate thus her old footman Lüdecke--
gpt
She fixed her eyes sadly upon the bare place on the wall.
human
I felt as if he were dragging out with it all the comforts of my daily life! Ah, here is the tea.
gpt
It has been here for some time, Sydow said, smiling.
human
I was just about to call your attention to the kettle, which is boiling over.