human
I--didn't know--I didn't--
gpt
No, you didn't, did ye, honey? said the major, in the broadest of Southern drawls.
human
No, ye didn't. The old fellow thought he'd surprise ye, honey. The man's face and voice were as frankly expressive of delighted love as a boy's.
gpt
Arthur, said he,
human
Jump in, Ina, he said, and placed a hand under his daughter's arm. She gave a smiling and not altogether unhappy, but still piteous, look at him, and hung back slightly.
gpt
Jump in, dear,
human
Now, Charlotte, said Carroll,
gpt
No, papa, Charlotte replied,
human
I will walk with you. I would rather.
gpt
Did you expect him, papa?
human
No, honey. The first thing I knew he came up to me on the ferry. He came on this morning; he has been in New York all day. I guess he wanted to buy something for Ina.
gpt
Her ring?
human
Very likely.
gpt
Papa, is Major Arms rich?
human
Quite, I think, dear. I don't know how much he has in reality, but he has his pay from the government--he is on the retired list--and he owns considerable property. He has enough and to spare, there is no doubt about that.
gpt
So if Ina has things and people trouble her for payment she can pay them,
human
Yes,
gpt
That will be very nice, said she.
human
Do you think he will be good to her, papa?
gpt
Sure as I am of anything in this world, dear.
human
It would be dreadful if he wasn't. Whatever else Ina or any of us haven't had, we've always had that. We've always lived with folks that loved us and were good to us. That would kill Ina and me quickest of anything, papa.
gpt
He will be good to her, dear, said Carroll, pleasantly. He looked down at Charlotte and laughed.
human
It's all right, baby, he said.
gpt
She's got one man in a thousand--one worth a thousand of your old dad.
human
No, she hasn't, said Charlotte, with indignation. She caught her father's arm and clung to it lovingly.
gpt
There is nobody in the world so good as you, said she, with fervor.
human
I wouldn't leave you for any man in the world, papa.
gpt
You wait,
human
Papa, you don't wish I were going to be married too? You don't want me to go away like Ina?
gpt
I never want you to go, darling,